News >> History of Mother's Day
The Roots of Mother's Day
Mother's day is celebrated on the second
Sunday in May and is set aside to honor our Moms. But how did this holiday come
to be. In the United States there it was imported from the British holiday
called Mothering Sunday and celebrated as part of the 4th Sunday of Lent. In the
16th century children once a year on Mothering Sunday would go to mother's
church which reunited parents with their children that day. Although there was
little documentation it was believed these children were working for someone and
away from home. Some were woman who were slaves and this was the one day of the
year that they could return home and see their families.
Despite the fact that the holiday is now secular, there are churches that go
back to the Christian roots of the holiday and pay homage to Mary, Our Spiritual
Mother. May is also designated by the church as a month devoted to Mary and
extra attention is paid to Mary. There are definitely Christian roots in this
holiday though.
The holiday was imported to the United states by Julia Ward Howe after the civil
war. Howe is a well know social activist and was an American Abolitionist. But
her most famous accomplishment is the penning of the Battle Hymn of the
Republic. In 1870 Howe wrote the Mothers day Proclamation and it was one of the
early mentions to celebrate Mother's Day in the United States. The proclamation
is is still included in a Unitarian Hymn. She encouraged this holiday because of
her displeasure with the Civil War and the death and hardship woman had to
endure. And it was also her basic tenant that woman needed to step up and help
shape the society on all levels including the political level.
Her idea for mother's day was inspired by Ann Jarvis who was trying to improve
sanitation at work. She called her crusade Mothers Work Days. She was able to
get women during the Civil War to work towards better sanitation conditions.
When Ann Jarvis died her Daughter, Anna Jarvis worked to getting a memorial day
for women started and was successful in Grafton West Virginia. On May 10ths 1908
the first Mothers Day was held. It was in the church that Ann Jarvis had taught.
Originally it was a Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church. Now the building is the
International Mother's Day Shrine and a National Historic Landmark. The other 45
states also began celebrating this holiday and in 1914 Woodrow Wilson declared
the first Nation Mothers day for Mothers whose sons had died in World War I.
Ironically the young lady who wanted to honor her own mother and started the
whole concept was so upset with the commercialization of the holiday that she
started to become an opponent to it. However, Mothers Day continues to be one of
the most successful US holidays. It is a great opportunity to get your mom a
Mother's Day Gift to thank her for being your Mom.
About the Author:
Faith-full features Mothers Day Gifts