Mother's Day Happiness To You

The story of Mothers Day is a long one.

It is neither a recent phenomenon as many people believe it to be.

Nor it is the creation of card and gift marketers syndicate as

 assumed by cynics of Mothers Day festival. To the surprise of lot 

many people Mothers Day celebrations are first said to have

taken place in the time of ancient Greeks and Romans

 hundreds of years ago.  Even Mothers Day celebrations in UK began

much before the tradition saw the light of the day in US.

In US the efforts of Ms Julia Ward Howe & 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. 

 Today Mothers Day is celebrated in more than 46 countries around

the world though at different times in the month of May and

in some countries it is celebrated in entirely different times of the year.

In the present time 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.

 Mother's Day Story

Celebrations in the time of Greeks and Romans 

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.

 Mother's Day Story

Celebrations in UK 

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. 

 Mother's Day Story

Genesis of the Festival in US

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".

 JULEP

 Sends Happy Mother's Day wishes to her Mommy Ming.

 Mother's Day Story

Struggle of Anna Jarvis

A loving daughter from West Virginia, Anna Jarvis is recognized

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

local 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.

 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

to all the great Mom's

in the world.