Mama Mia!

The history of Mother’s Day dates back to the 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. 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. 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. The more recent history of Mother’s Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually to honour mothers. After a prayer service in church to honor Virgin Mary,children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers. The custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. But 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. 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 suggested that June 2 be annually celebrated as Mother’s Day and should be dedicated to peace. She wrote a passionate appeal to women and urged them to rise against war in her famous Mother’s Day Proclamation written in Boston in 1870. Julia tirelessly championed the cause of official celebration of Mother’s 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.

Anna Jarvis is also recognised as the founder of Mother’s 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 Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. An activist and social worker,Jarvis used to express her desire that someday someone must honour all mothers and pay tribute to the contributions made by them. A loving daughter,Anna never forgot her mother’s word and when her mother died in 1905,she resolved to fulfill her mothers desire of having a mother’s day. To begin with Anna,sent carnations in the church service to honour her mother,Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration of Mother’s 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. Today Mother’s Day is celebrated in several countries and is a great day to pay tribute to mothers and thank them for all their love. Mother’s Day cards,gifts,cakes…the market is full of ideas to surprise your mom. But of course,the best gift to give your mom is your love!