History of Mother's Day

[KALKI]

Historians claim that the holiday of Mother's Day emerged from the ancient festival dedicated to mother goddess.
In the ancient Greek empire Rhea, wife of Cronus, and mother of Gods and Goddesses.
In Rome too, Cybele, a mother Goddesses, was worshipped, as early as 250 BC. It was known as Hilaria, and it lasted for three days, from March 15 to March 18.

England observes "Mothering Sunday", or the "Mid-Lent-Sunday, on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is quite identical to the modern celebrations. Historians say that there are reasons to believe that the Mother Church was substituted for Mother Goddess by the early church. Some say the ceremonies in honor of Cybele were adopted by the early church to venerate the Mother of Christ, Mother Mary. People attended the mother church of their parish, laden with offerings.
In the 16th century, people who used to work for others, brought gifts to their mothers on Mothering Sunday. Typical gifts were cakes, little mementos, and furmety, a preparation of wheat, milk, sugar and spices. However, in northern England and in Scotland, the preferred refreshments were carlings - pancakes made of steeped peas fried in butter, with pepper and salt. In fact, in some locations this day was called Carling Sunday.

In the United States, Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) is credited with bringing in the celebration of Mother's day. She was greatly attached to her mom Mrs. Reese Jarvis, who was a teacher in the Andrews Methodist Church of Grafton, West Virginia.
She died in May of 1905. Anna missed her mother Greatly, along with her blind sister Elisinore. Two years after her mother's death (1907) Anna Jarvis and her friends began a letter-writing campaign to gain the support of influential ministers, businessmen and congressmen in declaring a national Mother's Day holiday. She felt children often neglected to appreciate their mother enough while the mother was still alive. She hoped Mother's Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds. As a result of her efforts the first mother's day was observed by a church service honoring Late Mrs. Reese Jarvis, in Grafton, West Virginia, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1908.
Carnations, since they were Mrs. Jarvis's favorite flowers, were supplied. Later, Red carnations became the symbol of a living mother, while the white one for the lost.

The first Mother's Day proclamation was issued by the governor of West Virginia in 1910. Oklahoma celebrated Mother's Day that year as well. By 1911 every state had its own observances. By then other areas celebrating Mother's Day included Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, South America and Africa. The Mother's Day International Association was incorporated on December 12, 1912, with the purpose of furthering meaningful observations of Mother's Day.

OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
The House of Representatives in May, 1913, unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the President, his Cabinet, members of Congress, and all officials of the federal government to wear a white carnation on Mother's Day. Congress passed another Joint Resolution May 8, 1914, designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. The U.S. flag is to be displayed on government buildings and at people's homes "as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country." President Woodrow Wilson issued the first proclamation making Mother's Day an official national holiday.

What about you?
If you are one of the lucky ones who can have the company of your mother, spend the day with her, or gift her with something to make he feel special.