History of Mothers Day

History of Mother's Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival celebrated by Greeks to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology. Ancient Romans also celebrated a spring festival called Hilaria in honor of Cybele, a mother goddess some 250 years before Christ was born. Also, in the British Isles and Celtic Europe, the goddess Brigid, and later her successor St. Brigid, were honored with a spring Mother's Day, connected with the first milk of the ewes.

The more recent history of Mothers Day dates back to 1600s in England where people celebrated the 4th Sunday of Lent as "Mothering Sunday" to honor the mothers of England. However, Mothers Day celebration as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work and persistent efforts of Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis to Mothers Day, a day of great honor.

History of Mother's Day in US
In the United States, the idea of celebrating Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe as a day dedicated to peace. An activist, writer and poet Julia shot to fame with her famous Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". To generate awareness about the noble idea, Julia 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. Her idea spread but was later replaced by the Mothers' Day holiday now celebrated in May.

Anna Jarvis - Founder of Mothers Day in US
It is Ms Anna Jarvis who is recognized as the 'Mother of Mothers Day' and the 'Founder of Mothers Day' in US. She never married and never had kids but still created a name for herself by bestowing honor on all mothers. Ms Jarvis got the inspiration of celebrating Mothers Day from her own mother Mrs Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. When her mother died in 1905, Anna resolved to fulfill her mother's desire of having a Mothers Day. To begin with, Anna sent Carnations in the church service in Grafton, West Virginia to honor her mother. Carnations were her mother's favorite flowers and Anna felt that they symbolized a mother's pure love. Later, Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power to lobby 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 United States and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Global Celebration
At present, Mothers Day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. People across the globe have different ways of celebrating Mother's Day. They take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers and thank them for their constant and unconditional love and support. As a token of their love people gift flowers, cards and others gift to mothers on the Mothers Day. Along with this, special Mothers Day parties are also arranged by kids for their sweet moms.

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