Herstory
Flickr photo by dospaz
Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Sure, it may seem like a bit of a Hallmark Holiday because mothers should be celebrated every day, but I’m sure they enjoy this special day. In fact, the tradition dates back centuries ago. The Romans organized a springtime celebration in honor of their mother goddess Cybele. The ancient Greeks paid tribute to Rhea, the mother of all Gods. Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis is credited for spearheading the modern Mother’s day holiday. Jarvis had eleven children, eight of whom died young. In 1858, she organized women into Mothers Day Work Clubs to raise awareness about local sanitation issues. After the civil war, Jarvis launched the first Mothers Friendship Day to reunite families and friends torn apart by the war. When Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis died in May 1905, her daughter Anna took over her work. On the second Sunday of May, 1908, the third anniversary of her mother’s death, Anna organized a memorial in honor of all mothers. By 1909, 45 states, along with Canada and Mexico, were celebrating Mothers’ Day, and by 1914, it was declared a national holiday. Dads, don’t be jealous, your turn will come next month!
How will you pamper your mummy this year? Do you have a mother’s day tradition?
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