Tuesday Thoughts by YoTrip for May 4, 2010-Honoring Mother’s Day (Vol.5, Iss.1)
The History of Mother’s Day
The history of Mother’s Day is centuries old and goes back to the times of ancient Greeks, who held festivities to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods. The early Christians celebrated the Mother’s festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor Mary, the mother of Christ. Interestingly, later on a religious order stretched the holiday to include all mothers, and named it as the Mothering Sunday. The English colonists settled in America discontinued the tradition of Mothering Sunday because of lack of time. In 1872 Julia Ward Howe organized a day for mothers dedicated to peace. It is a landmark in the history of Mother’s Day.
In 1907, Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948), a Philadelphia schoolteacher, began a movement to set up a national Mother’s Day in honor of her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis. She solicited the help of hundreds of legislators and prominent businessmen to create a special day to honor mothers. The first Mother’s Day observance was a church service honoring Anna’s mother. Anna handed out her mother’s favorite flowers, the white incarnations, on the occasion as they represent sweetness, purity, and patience. Anna’s hard work finally paid off in the year 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in honor of mothers.
Slowly and gradually the Mother’s day became very popular and gift giving activity increased. All this commercialization of the Mother’s day infuriated Anna as she believed that the day’s sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of greed and profit.
Regardless of Jarvis’s worries, Mother’s Day has flourished in the United States. Actually, the second Sunday of May has become the most popular day of the year. Although Anna may not be with us but the Mother’s day lives on and has spread to various countries of the world. Many countries throughout the world celebrate Mother’s Day at various times during the year, but some such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.
Mothering Sunday
The early Christians in England celebrated the Mother’s festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor Mary, the mother of Christ. Interestingly, later on a religious order stretched the holiday to include all mothers, and named it as the Mothering Sunday. People working out of their homes were expected to return to the “mother” church (the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm). It also became an occasion for family reunions. http://www.dayformothers.com/mothers-day-history/
As we prepare to celebrate the day set aside for the Mother’s of the world it is fitting to how and why this day came about. From the recognition of the god Rhea in the Greek tradition to a Christian day to honor Mary the Mother of Jesus, to finally becoming an American holiday second to only Christmas in its commercial rankings.
Mother’s Day is the special day, we observe on the second Sunday in May to hail, highlight and honor those who are center in our life. Mother’s love and care for their children from the womb, to their childhood of growth and development to the wonder years of being a teenager to adulthood. Mother’s nuturing spirit is wrapped around their children like the roots of a tree. The bonds of Mother and child are strengthen as time moves them along and are not easily broken. A Mother’s presence in her child’s life is a gift of wisdom, compassion, concern and LOVE.
Mother’s Day is everday when Mom’s can experience the joy of seeing their children safe, healthy,and happy.On this coming Sunday and everyday therafter find a way to honor your Mother. If she is living let her hear and see your love. If she is resting in peace make her proud of your living by carrying on the legacy of her life. If you are estranged find a way to fix that today. Mother’s are the difference and make the difference in their children’s life and living. Happy MOTHER’S DAY. 5/4/10
“A.I.M. To Win In 2010”
Aspire, Inspire, Motivate
Yolanda Clay Triplett
“YoTrip”
https://yotrip.wordpress.com
http://yotrip-wordsandthoughts.blogspot.com
“Words the joyful noise of my
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