Print
Email
While the Mother's Day we celebrate is a fairly recent development, the basic idea goes back to ancient mythology—to the long ago civilizations of the Greeks and Romans.
The Greeks paid annual homage to Cybele, the mother figure of their gods, and the Romans dedicated an annual spring festival to the mother of their gods.
Mothering Sunday
In 16th century England a celebration called "Mothering Sunday" was inaugurated—a Sunday set aside for visiting one's mother. The eldest son or daughter would bring a "mothering cake," which would be cut and shared by the entire family. Family reunions were the order of the day, with sons and daughters assuming all household duties and preparing a special dinner in honor of their mother. Sometime during the day the mother would attend special church services with her family.
Julia Ward Howe
Here in America, in 1872, Julia Ward Howe, famous author who fought for abolition, women's rights, and world peace, suggested that June 2 be set aside to honor mothers in the name of world peace. The idea died a quick death. Nothing new happened in this department until 1907, when a Miss Anna M. Jarvis, of Philadelphia, took up the banner.
Anna M. Jarvis
Miss Jarvis had invited a few close friends to attend church services with her in memory of her departed mother. Thus was born the idea that the second Sunday in May be set aside to honor all mothers, dead or alive. Jarvis, the 'mother' of Mother's Day, bombarded public figures and various civic organizations with telegrams, letters, and in-person discussions. She addressed groups large and small. At her own expense, she wrote, printed, and distributed booklets extolling her idea.
Her efforts came to the attention of the mayor of Philadelphia, who proclaimed a local Mother's Day. From the local level she went on to Washington, D.C. The politicians there knew a good thing when they saw it and were quick to lend verbal support.
West Virginia was the first state to officially adopt the holiday, and others followed suit. Proclamation of the day by the various states led Representative J. Thomas Heflin of Alabama and Senator Morris Sheppard of Texas to present a joint resolution to Congress that Mother's Day be observed nation-wide. The resolution was passed by both houses.
Mother's Day Today
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill designating the second Sunday in May as a legal holiday to be called "Mother's Day"—dedicated "to the best mother in the world, your mother." For the first few years, the day was observed as a legal holiday, but in absolute simplicity and reverence—church services were held in honor of all mothers, living and dead. In many ways family observance much resembled that of the British version of "Mothering Sunday."
And what of Anna M. Jarvis? She died in 1948 in a sanatorium in West Chester, Pennsylvania—a lonely forgotten woman. She left this world with bitterness and regret, wishing that her name had never become associated with Mother's Day.
She spent half her life fighting for a special "day" for mothers; the other half fighting against it!
.png)
I live in Grafton, WV in
I live in Grafton, WV in Taylor Co. For anyone who has the time or a chance to visit the Mothers Day Shrine or the birth place of Anna Jarvis ( Webster) please do so. Both are not only beautiful and interesting places but rich in the history of Mothers Day.