|
By Patricia Fason
Mother's Day is, in many countries, a day for celebrating motherhood and
thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day, and it is a huge
time of
year for mail. In 1973, the U.S. Postal Service was held up for 8 days because
of the constant flow of letters and cards.
In
Our Store
|
| |
|
|
Celebrate
Simply
Your Guide to Simpler, More Meaningful
Holidays and Special Occasions |
|
|
| |
|
|
Origins
Mother's day has evolved in many countries in different ways. This is because
mother's day has different origins in different countries and therefore occurs
on different days in the year.
One school of thought claims that this day
emerged from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship
which kept a festival to Cybele,
a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus, was held on March
15 to March 18 around Asia Minor. They insist that this custom spread around
the world.
Mothering Sunday is the celebration of motherhood in the United Kingdom.
It takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This Sunday is also known
as Mid-lent
Sunday, Rose Sunday and Laetare Sunday. Traditionally the children will
bring gifts of flowers and chocolates to their mother. Breakfast in bed
is also
an expectation, as is a relaxing, carefree day. It originally comes from
the Victorian
practice of allowing servants to return home to visit their mothers on
this day.
United States Origins
Julia Ward Howe (May 27, 1819 - October 17, 1910) was a prominent
American abolitionist, social activist, and poet. Howe's Battle Hymn of the
Republic was first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and quickly became
one of the most popular songs for the Union during the American Civil War. After
the war she focused her activities on the causes of Pacifism and women's suffrage.
In 1870 she was the first to proclaim Mother's Day, with her Mother's Day Proclamation.
Anna Maria Reeves Jarvis (September 30, 1832 - May 9, 1905) was born
in Culpeper, Virginia. Jarvis worked around what is now West Virginia
to promote
worker
health and safety concerns. During the American Civil War she organized
women to tend to the needs of the wounded of both sides. After the
war she became
active in the promotion of Mother's Day, a holiday at that time involved
with the causes of pacifism and social activism. She organized meetings
for mothers
of soldiers on both sides of the late war.
Her daughter Anna Marie Jarvis (May 1, 1864 - November 24, 1948)
of Grafton, West Virginia held a memorial to her mother on the
second anniversary
of her mother's death (1907) and then went on a quest to make Mother's
Day
a recognized
holiday. In 1908 formal observances were held in churches in Grafton
and Philadelphia. By 1911 every state celebrated the occasion on
the
second
Sunday in May. President
Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming
Mother's Day as a national holiday and ordered the United States
flag displayed
on all public buildings.
Remember to tell your mom how much you appreciate
her by going to see her, calling her, or sending her a gift. Mothers deserve
at least one day a year to feel special.
Other articles you may find interesting:
Sources - wikipedia.org
and Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia 1997. For suggestions
on what to get your mom this year for Mother's Day visit The Gift Boutique Mother's
Day Section. Patricia Fason,www.sitesoweb.com/.
Patricia Fason is a writer and poet. She is listed as an ezine articles expert
author, a buzzle author and has provided articles exclusively to websites and
ezines. Contact her for information on exclusive articles or visit her website
dedicated to romance - Sites O Web Romances You. There you will find romance
tips, poetry, free greeting cards, love coupons, romantic
gifts and more.
*The articles published on this site undergo our review process. We found the information in this article to be very useful and informative. The source website does not necessarily reflect our website. We have linked to them for your information only.
|
