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came up with the idea of honoring mothers nation-wide on the
second Sunday in May? |
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Some historians claim that the predecessor of the Mother's Day holiday
was the ancient spring festival dedicated to mother goddesses. In the
ancient Greek empire the spring festival honored Rhea, wife of Cronus and
mother of the gods and goddesses. In Rome the most significant Mother's
Day-like festival was dedicated to the worship of Cybele, another mother
goddess. Ceremonies in her honor began some 250 years before Christ was
born. This Roman religious celebration, known as Hilaria, lasted for three
days - from March 15 to 18!
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ENGLAND'S MOTHERING SUNDAY |
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More like the modern celebration of Mother's Day is England's
"Mothering Sunday", also called Mid-Lent Sunday, observed on the
fourth Sunday in Lent. Some say the ceremonies in honor of Cybele were
adopted by the early church to venerate the Mother of Christ, Mary. Others
believe the Mother Church was substituted for mother goddess and custom
began to dictate that a person visit the church of his/her baptism on this
day. People attended the mother church of their parish, laden with
offerings.
Also in England in the 1600's, young men and women who were apprentices
or servants returned home on Mothering Sunday, bringing to their mothers
small gifts like trinkets or a "mothering cake". Sometimes furmety
was served - wheat grains boiled in sweet milk, sugared and spiced.
In northern England and in Scotland, the preferred refreshments were carlings
- pancakes made of steeped pease fried in butter, with pepper and salt. In
fact, in some locations this day was called Carling Sunday.
Another kind of mothering cake was the simnel cake, a very rich
fruit cake. The Lenten fast dictated that the simnel cake had to keep
until Easter. It was boiled in water, then baked, and was often finished
with an almond icing. Sometimes the crust was of flour and water, colored
with saffron.
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INTEREST STARTS IN THE UNITED STATES |
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Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948) is credited with originating our Mother's
Day holiday. She never married and was extremely attached to her mother,
Mrs. Anna Reese Jarvis. Mrs. Jarvis was a minister's daughter who for 20
years taught Sunday School in the Andrews Methodist Church of Grafton,
West Virginia. Miss Jarvis graduated from the Female Seminary in Wheeling,
West Virginia, and taught in Grafton before moving to Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, with the rest of her family.
Anna Reese Jarvis died in Philadelphia in May of 1905. Still unmarried
and left alone with her blind sister Elsinore, Anna missed her mother
greatly. 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
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The first Mother's Day observance was a church service honoring Mrs.
Anna Reese Jarvis, held at Anna Jarvis's request in Grafton, West
Virginia, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1908.
Carnations, her mother's favorite flowers, were supplied at that first
service by Miss Jarvis. White carnations were chosen because they
represented the sweetness, purity and endurance of mother love. Red
carnations, in time, became the symbol of a living mother. White ones now
signify that one's mother has died.
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OTHER MOTHER'S DAY OBSERVANCES
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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. |
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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.
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If your mother is still alive, take care to shower her with special
attention this Mother's Day. Visit her. Phone her. Send her a card. Give
her flowers. Get her gourmet
chocolates. Buy her something you know she's been wanting. But don't
wait until after her funeral to let her know how much you've appreciated
her! Wear your red (or otherwise-colored) carnation proudly.
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POEMS
that you may use and share: Here is one sampling,
please go to and read others. They will touch your heart, and you may use them as you
wish.. on cards, in an email.. Send them to your own mom.. share them with
your friends and family. |
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| You Are My Mother and My
Friend
You are my mother and my friend,
Which is unusual.
Somehow our characters must blend:
Your wisdom and my will.
I turn, and you are there for me;
I speak, you understand.
I feel cared for, but also free;
You lead but don't command.
I'm fortunate that I was born
To someone just like you;
I love you, not just as my mom,
But for what you are and do.
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Links especially for "Moms" |
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MOMS of all ages, here's a special site for you to visit..
plan to spend a lot of time here. |
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You want something unique to give your mom?? go
here. |
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You KNOW you have to send out that card.. Here's the best
place to go. |
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