Mother’s Day is believed to have its origins in the annual spring festival celebrated in Ancient Greece to pay tributes to Rhea, the wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities. One and a half centuries ago, in the United States, the foundation stone of this festival was laid by an Appalachian homemaker named Anna Jarvis.
Mother’s Day has changed drastically in its basic conception and form. None of the above mentioned festivals were meant to express love and gratitude to the immediate mother. Anna Jarvis wanted the women in her community to help her raise concern about the poor sanitary conditions of the community. She felt that mothers were the most affected members of the community because of the concern they had for their children’s health. Her efforts led to the conception of the Mother’s Work Day.
Anna Jarvis’s daughter, of the same name, campaigned for the celebration of a day especially meant to express love and honor to our mothers. Anna Jarvis’s daughter could be called the real founder of Mother’s Day in the United States, as she worked relentlessly to promote the celebration of Mother’s Day. Behind it all was her extreme love and devotion to her own mother. Her efforts were rewarded in 1908 when she celebrated the memory of her mother at a local church; she handed out the white carnation at this service. It was her mother’s favorite flower. The real reward came in 1914 when mother’s day was officially recognized and a holiday declared to celebrate this festival.
Despite the misgivings of the founder, in her later years, about Mother’s Day becoming too commercialized in its practice, Mother’s Day flourished in various parts of the world, especially in the United States. In its present form, Mother’s Day is celebrated as a festival when we express our love for our mothers by presenting them with gifts in the form of cards, flowers, crafts, jewelry and a variety of other gifts. Celebrated on the second Sunday of May, this festival is the most popular way of showing your mother that you care and appreciate all that she has ever done for you.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
History of Mother’s Day
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The history of Mother’s day can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the annual spring festival was celebrated in honor of Rhea, the wife of Cronus, and mother to several Gods and Goddesses. In Rome, a similar festival was dedicated to Cybele, the Great...
-
Mother’s Day Gifts
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
People often assume that Mother’s Day is a something promoted by Hallmark to make you buy their cards. But, in fact, the tradition of celebrating Mother’s Day is an old one. The Greeks and the Romans worshipped the mother of the Gods, and although one’s...
-
Mother’s Day Gifts: An Overview
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
What would you give as a gift to a woman who has toiled hard to gift you everything you ever wished for? Nothing can match up to the regard and love that you have for the woman with whom you shared your first cherished bonding-your...
-
Mother’s Day Crafts
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The pleasure of putting together a gift for someone you love a lot is one of the most rewarding experiences of life. And what better gift can a mother receive on Mother’s Day than a gift lovingly put together by her dearest children. Creating Mother’s...
-
Mother’s Day Flowers
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Since time immemorial flowers have been used to represent emotions and merits. In ancient Greece, ivy was used as a sign of everlasting and unbreakable love. On Mother’s Day, there are a variety of flowers chosen by people to express their feelings of gratitude towards...
-
Mother’s Day Cards
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Warm greetings for your darling mom on Mother’s Day! That’s what Mother’s Day cards are for. All year long, she does everything to make you comfortable and happy. You can strive to make her happy at least once a year on the day especially meant...
-
Mexican Holidays
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Holidays unanimously symbolize relaxation and fun. Known for its enticing aromas of organic coffee and mouthwatering menus, Mexican culture is an amalgamation of the old and the modern. Holidays observed here are rooted in their rich culture and religious beliefs, which form the basis of...
-
Fathers Day History
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Father’s Day has today become a global symbol of expressing love and respect to one’s father. Sons and daughters all over the world make it a point to take some time off and meet their father on this day. Father’s Day has religious as well...
-
Send Flowers for Mother’s Day
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Traditionally, we honor our mothers in May. Mother’s Day is a day when our mom does not have to arrange and prepare meals, but stays on the receiving end. Mother’s Day is the perfect day to express our gratitude towards our mother. We can never...
-
Mardi Gras Masks
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Mardi Gras is a popular festival that has been celebrated by people with pomp for generations and will be celebrated for generations to come. The festival originated in France and then traveled to New Orleans to become even more colorful. This festival is celebrated before...