Brief History of Mother's Day

Mother’s day was celebrated as early as the ancient time. Ancient Greek celebrated Rhea, the mother of all Gods. Ancient Romans had spring celebrations in honor of their mother Goddess, Cybele.

During the 1600's, the early Christians in England celebrated a day to honor Mary, the mother of Christ. During the 1700’s those living on the British Isles initiated a religious celebration of motherhood, called Mothering Sunday. Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter), "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England. It was in 1900’s that the celebrations eventually fade out.

On the US however mother’s day was first introduced by Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis (September 30, 1832, Culpeper, Virginia — May 9, 1905, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Jarvis was a social activist and organizer during and after the American Civil War. Jarvis worked throughout western Virginia (now West Virginia) to promote worker health and safety. During the American Civil War she organized women to tend to the needs of the wounded of both sides of the war conflict. After the war she became active in the promotion of a "Mothers' Work Day" that, unlike the modern version of the holiday, specially emphasized the causes of pacifism and social activism. She organized meetings of the mothers of soldiers of both sides of the late war.

In 1872 Julia Ward Howe (May 27, 1819 – October 17, 1910) who was a prominent American abolitionist, social activist, and poet most famous as the author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." encourage a Mother’s Day for peace to be held on 2^nd of June. Although it was patronized on the subsequent years, its popularity was short lived.

Upon Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis death, her daughter Anna Marie Jarvis (May 1, 1864, Webster, West Virginia — November 24, 1948, West Chester, Pennsylvania), held a memorial to her mother and thereafter embarked upon a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday. She succeeded in making this nationally recognized in 1914. She is now recognized as the founder of the Mother's Day holiday in the United States of America which was celebrated every 2^nd Sunday of May.

Today Mothers Day is celebrated in several countries including US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, Philippines, Belgium and others. Everybody take the day as a chance to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their TLC’s (Tender Loving Care).