Mother’s Day is special to all the children of the society, irrespective of their age, and all of us look forward to celebrate this day. However, when this was first observed or who celebrated it first, is not known to all of us. Read on to share the history of this auspicious day.
The first Mother’s Day was observed on May 10 th, 1908 , in a church, honoring
Mrs. Anna Reese Jarvis. This honor was conferred upon her on the request of her daughter Anna Jarvis in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania .
Mother’s Day History dates back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of Gods and Cybele, the Great Mother of Gods. Christians celebrated this occasion on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all
Mothers and named as the Mothering Sunday. This “Mothering Sunday” was to honor the mothers of England . During this day the servants used to get a day-off to celebrate the day, back home, with their Mothers. Such old is the Mother’s Day History.
In the year 1905, when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter also named Anna started
A campaign to restart the work left incomplete by her mother. Anna, the daughter, also distributed her mother’s favorite flower; white carnation on the first celebrations of first Mother’s Day. However, five years later, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution making the officers of Federal Government to wear white carnation on Mother’s Day. But it was only in1914 that Woodrow. Wilson, the then President of United States, recognized Mother’s Day as National Holiday.
Initially, people were seriously involved in Mother’s Day celebrations. They sent cards, flowers, presents etc, to their mothers. They would also attend church and write letters. But with increase in gift-giving activity, Anna got annoyed, because the day’s sentiment was getting lost, and its place has been occupied by profits and greed. So much so, that before her death in 1948, Jarvis regretted starting the Mother’s Day tradition only.
Despite all the misgivings by Anna Jarvis mother’s day flourished in U.S.A.
Whatever the mother’s day history has been but now the second Sunday of may has become the most popular day of the year – when sons and daughter an opportunity to honor and appreciate their mothers .
