Mother's Day advertisements have been bombarding us for a while. Kids are busy picking out cards and gifts. Grownups are finalizing gifts for their mothers. Tables are being booked for a meal. Plans are afoot.
Though Mother's Day comes around every year on 14th May, most of us know very little about it. Here are some facts that might surprise you:
1. Although Mother's Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, it's not always on 14th May. The UK celebrates it three weeks before Easter Sunday, calling it Mothering Sunday and it's usually in the second half of March or early April.
2. Many ancient religions have celebrated Mother Goddesses since time immemorial. Some celebrations were so wild that they were banned by authorities.
3. As Christianity spread, in early 16th century the church encouraged the people to honor Mary, mother of Jesus. Over time this included real mothers.
4. The American Mother's Day has it's own history, completely dissociated from religion. Julia Ward Howe a poet and activist was very distraught over the carnage during the Civil War. She wrote a Mother's Day proclamation and wanted July 4th's celebration to be dedicated to mothers on both sides who lost their sons. This did start on June 2nd, but eventually died out after about a decade.
5. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother's memory. As her mother had taught for 20 years at Sunday School. Anna Jarvis persuaded the superintendent of the church to have a Mother's Day celebration in 1908. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made it a national observance, after successful petitioning by Anna.
Over the years Anna Jarvis was completely disillusioned by the commercialization of this observance. Ironically, she campaigned to stop this celebration until the end of her life, but failed!
Mother's Day is all about acknowledging the person who contributes so much to a child's upbringing. Well, don't forget to talk to your mother on Sunday. The gifts can wait.
Though Mother's Day comes around every year on 14th May, most of us know very little about it. Here are some facts that might surprise you:
1. Although Mother's Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, it's not always on 14th May. The UK celebrates it three weeks before Easter Sunday, calling it Mothering Sunday and it's usually in the second half of March or early April.
2. Many ancient religions have celebrated Mother Goddesses since time immemorial. Some celebrations were so wild that they were banned by authorities.
3. As Christianity spread, in early 16th century the church encouraged the people to honor Mary, mother of Jesus. Over time this included real mothers.
4. The American Mother's Day has it's own history, completely dissociated from religion. Julia Ward Howe a poet and activist was very distraught over the carnage during the Civil War. She wrote a Mother's Day proclamation and wanted July 4th's celebration to be dedicated to mothers on both sides who lost their sons. This did start on June 2nd, but eventually died out after about a decade.
5. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother's memory. As her mother had taught for 20 years at Sunday School. Anna Jarvis persuaded the superintendent of the church to have a Mother's Day celebration in 1908. In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made it a national observance, after successful petitioning by Anna.
Over the years Anna Jarvis was completely disillusioned by the commercialization of this observance. Ironically, she campaigned to stop this celebration until the end of her life, but failed!
Mother's Day is all about acknowledging the person who contributes so much to a child's upbringing. Well, don't forget to talk to your mother on Sunday. The gifts can wait.
