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| The Origin of Mother's
Day |
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Feature
Special Day Article |
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~
Famous Quotes ~ |
| ~The art of
mothering is to teach the art of living to children - Elain
Heffner |
| ~A mother
is not a person to lean on but a person to make leaning
unnecessary. Dorothy C. Fisher |
| ~God could
not be everywhere, and therefore he created mothers. Jewish
Proverb |
| ~My mother
had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.
Mark Twain |
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Origin of Mother's Day
goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. The roots of
Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering
Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of
the day in US. The celebration of the festival as it is seen
today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old.
Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times,
Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into
existence. Today the festival of Mothers day is celebrated
across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely
popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day
as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their
efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their
constant support and well wisher.
Earliest History of Mothers Day
The earliest history of Mothers Day dates back to the ancient
annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal
goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of
Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology.
Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called
Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted
that ceremonies in honor of Cybele began some 250 years before
Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by
making offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days
and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations
were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished
from Rome.
Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the
festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin
Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded
to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday.
History of Mother's Day: Mothering Sunday
The more recent history of Mothers Day dates back to 1600s in
England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the
fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter)
to honor mothers. After a prayer service in church to honor
Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute
to their own mothers.
On the occasion, servants, apprentices and other employees
staying away from their homes were encouraged by their employers
to visit their mothers and honor them. Traditionally children
brought with them gifts and a special fruit cake or fruit-filled
pastry called a simnel. Yugoslavs and people in other nations
have observed similar days.
Custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost
completely by the 19th century. However, the day came to be
celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen
brought the custom and commercial enterprises used it as an
occasion for sales.
History of Mother's Day: Julia Ward Howe
The idea of official celebration of Mothers day in US was first
suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist, writer and
poet Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song,
"Battle Hymn of the Republic". Julia Ward Howe
suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mothers Day and
should be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal to
women and urged them to rise against war in her famous Mothers
Day Proclamation, written in Boston in 1870. She also initiated
a Mothers' Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June in
Boston and held the meeting for a number of years. Julia
tirelessly championed the cause of official celebration of
Mothers Day and declaration of official holiday on the day. Her
idea spread but was later replaced by the Mothers' Day holiday
now celebrated in May.
History of Mother's Day: Anna Jarvis
Anna Jarvis is recognized as the Founder of Mothers Day in US.
Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had kids, she is also
known as the Mother of Mothers Day, an apt title for the lady
who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers.
Anna Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mothers Day from
her own mother Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood.
An activist and social worker, Mrs. Jarvis used to express her
desire that someday someone must honor all mothers, living and
dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them.
A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mothers word and when
her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mothers
desire of having a mothers day. Growing negligent attitude of
adult Americans towards their mothers and a desire to honor her
mothers soared her ambitions.
To begin with Anna, send Carnations in the church service in
Grafton, West Virginia to honor her mother. Carnations were her
mothers favorite flower and Anna felt that they symbolized a
mothers pure love. Later Anna along with her supporters wrote
letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the
official declaration of Mothers Day holiday. The hard work paid
off. By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state
in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed
a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as
Mother's Day.
History of Mother's Day: Present Day Celebrations
Today Mothers Day is celebrated in several countries including
US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia,
Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and Belgium. People take the day as
an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them
for all their love and support. The day has become hugely
popular and in several countries phone lines witness maximum
traffic. There is also a tradition of gifting flowers, cards and
others gift to mothers on the Mothers Day. The festival has
become commercialized to a great extent. Florists, card
manufacturers and gift sellers see huge business potential in
the day and make good money through a rigorous advertising
campaign.
It is unfortunate to note that Ms Anna Jarvis, who devoted her
life for the declaration of Mothers Day holiday was deeply hurt
to note the huge commercialization of the day. |
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