Mothers Day History

In many places around the world people celebrate mothers’ day on various days because the day has a number of different origins.

The earliest mark of respect to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea in Greece. She is mother of many deities. Other authors say it come from the offerings ancient Romans made to Cybele-The Great Mother of Gods. Christians celebrated the festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Christ’s mother-Mary.
In Britain Mothers Sunday was celebrated in the beginning of 17th century. It began as a day when apprentices and servants return home to visit their mothers.It has been exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday.Usually they brought with them a mothering cake known as simnels. It is a kind of fruit-filled boiled cereal dish, which was served at the family dinner.

The other names for this festival include Simnel Sunday, Refreshment Sunday and Rose Sunday.
Mothers’ Day in the United Kingdom is not connected to the American practice. USA celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May.
The social activist Julia Ward Howe imported it after the American Civil War. She wanted to unite women against war. In 1870, she wrote the Mother’s Day Proclamation- for peace and disarment.Ann Jarvis was a young Appalachian homemaker who had attempted to improve sanitation through Mothers’ Work Days. She united women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitation. In 1907 Jarvis died and her daughter Anna Jarvis, started campaign to found a memorial day for women. On 10 May, 1908, was celebrated the first Mother’s Day in Grafton. From there, the custom spread to 45 states. In 1912 the holiday was declared officially by the rest of the states.

The Mother’s day lives on and has spread to various countries all over the world and the gift giving activity increased. Many countries in the world celebrate Mother’s Day at various days during the year. Slowly and gradually the Mother’s day became the most popular day of the year.

Mother’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday May 11, 2008 in the U.S.and on the 02nd of March, 2008 in UK