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The celebrations of mothers day date back to as long as 100
years back to the time of ancient Greeks and Romans. These
ceelbrations came to US much after it first saw its beginning in
UK. Ms Julia Ward Howe and Ms Anna Jarvis are greatly recognised
for starting the tradition of Mothers Day but several other
women too made remarkable contribution to further the cause of
Mothers Day holiday. Mothers Day has come to be internationally
recognized as the day to honor all mothers and thank them for
the services they impart for the benefit of their individual
child and consequently to the development of mankind. It
is celebrated in different times of the year all around the
world.
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Celebrations in the time of Greeks and
Romans |
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The tradition of Mothers Day started with the ancient Greeks who
celebrated their annual spring festival in honor of Rhea, the
mother of many Gods and Goddesses in the Greek mythology.
Ancient Romans too celebrated a spring festival by the name of
Hilaria in honor of Cybele, a mother goddess, some 250 years
before Christ was born.
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Celebrations in UK |
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In UK, Mothers Day celebrations started by the name of Mothering
Sunday, several years before the tradition found its roots in
UK. Mothering Sunday came to be celebrated following the
practice in UK of 17th century wherein children of poor families
were send to work as apprentice and domestic servants with the
rich. These children were allowed to visit their 'Mother Church'
or the Cathedral of their home town annually in the middle of
the fasting month of Lent. Children met their mothers after
visiting the church and presented them with flowers and special
'Mothering Cakes'. The custom received a set back with the
advent of Industrial Revolution when the lifestyles changes.
American soldiers contributed in the revival of the tradition
after the World War II..
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Genesis of the Festival in US |
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The story of Mothers Day in US began with the efforts of a
dynamic writer and poetess, Julia Ward Howe in 1872. An activist
to the core Julia utilized her potentials to further the cause
of Mothers Day. She wrote a powerful Mothers Day Proclamation in
Boston in 1870 and demanded declaration of official holiday and
celebrations on Mothers Day. Her idea gained popularity but she
could not get the idea implemented. Julia is also credited for
penning words for Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". |
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Struggle of Anna Jarvis |
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A loving daughter from West Virginia, Anna Jarvis is recognised
as a 'Founder of Mothers Day' and 'Mother of Mothers Day'. Anna
kept the word of her activist mother, Mrs Ann Marie Reeves
Jarvis who once expressed a wish that someone should strive to
provide mothers their due recognition. After her mothers death
in 1905, Anna's determination became strong and she along with
several supporters started lobbying for the official holiday on
Mothers Day by writing letters to the people in power. To
celebrate Mothers Day, Anna began to send her mothers favorite
flowers, carnations in her loal church requesting people to wear
them in honor of their mothers. The idea gained immense
popularity over the years and in 1910, West Virginia became the
first state to recognize Mothers Day holiday. On May 8, 1914
President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating
the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
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