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Every celebration is supported by some traditions. These are
those traditions which brought the celebration of a particular
event in practise. Though these traditions vary from one
place to another, yet the basic objective is the same.
Mothers Day Origin In The United
Kingdom (England)
In order to honor Mother Mary, mother of Lord Jesus, the early
christians used to celebrate the mothers festival in England.
This festival was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of 'Lent'.
Later on this celebration was brought into practise to honor all
mothers. And hence this ocassion came to be known as "Mothering
Sunday".
As time passed this festival started getting prominence and
people who were working outside were expected to return back to
the "Mother" church. Soon this unique festival turned out to be
an occasion for family reunions coz it was believed that
"Mother" church had the spiritual power that not only gave all
those people life but also protected them from any harm or so
called danger.
On Mothering Sunday people started attending church services in
honor of the Virgin Mary. This soon became a tradition. This
festival gained so much significance that it was treated as the
day when apprentices, servants and children specifically those
working as domestic helps or as trainees, were given the day off
so that they could visit their mother and family. These people,
realizing the warmth of the occasion used to come back home with
several gifts, flowers and unique Mothering Day cakes to
celebrate their reunion. This day became an occasion when people
could spend one special day with their mothers. Even today the
Mother's Day celebrations means the time for the children to
express their love and concern towards their moms. And they do
so by giving presents, flowers and other home made cards and
crafts to their mothers.
Mother's Day Origin In the United
States Of America
In the United States Of America (USA) the situation was quite
different. There the early English settlers often disapproved of
more secular holidays and this is why the Mothering Sunday
tradition never really took hold in the USA. Even some early
attempts made there in this regard were mixed with women's
suffrage and other peace movements.
In the USA it was Julia Ward Howe, the author of the words to
the Battle Hymn of the Republic, who came with the idea of an
International Mother's day in 1872. It is noticeable here that
her objective behind this was not exactly to honor mothers but
to celebrate the peace.
Another important name associated with present form of Mother's
Day celebrations is of Anna Jarvis. Anna Jarvis was the person
who made lots of efforts for establishing Mother's Day, as a
national celebration. Jarvis held an annual gathering "Mother's
Friendship Day", with an objective to heal the pain of the
victims and those affected of the Civil War. After the death of
her mother in 1905, Anna began a campaign for the establishment
of an official Mother's Day in order to commemorate and pay
tribute to her mother.
It could be said that Anna Jarvis devoted her entire life making
efforts to have Mother's Day declared as a national holiday. She
began her struggle in the spring of 1908. As her first step made
in this direction she wrote to the Superintendent of Andrew's
Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. This was the place
where her mother had taught Sunday School classes for over 20
years. In her letter to the Superintendent she urged that a
Mother's Day service should be held in honor of her mother.
First Mother's Day Celebration Service
As a result of Julia Ward Howe's efforts the first official Mother's Day was
celebrated on May 10, 1908 at Andrew's Methodist Church, where
her mother had taught. 407 persons attended this celebration.
For this function held at the church in Grafton Anna Jarvis sent
500 white carnations. One carnation was to be worn by each son
and daughter and two by each mother in attendance.
Another Mother's Day Celebration
Service
Another Mother's Day celebration service was held in
Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the place where Anna resided with
her brother. She celebrated Mother's Day there later that
afternoon.
Official Mother's Day
Finally in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared that Mother's
Day should be celebrated as a national holiday on the second
Sunday in May. |
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