Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is one of America’s favorite holidays.The origins of the celebration of Mother’s Day may be found in the spring festivals, which the inhabitants of ancient Greece dedicated to Rhea, the mother of the gods. Beginning in 1600, the tradition of celebrating Mother's Sunday began in England. On this day, which was the fourth Sunday of Lent, mothers were honored.

The history of this holiday has preserved some interesting facts. At that time, for example, many of the English poor worked as servants for the rich. Since they often worked far from their families, they had to live in the homes of their employers.

On Mother Sunday, they were given a day of rest so that they could go home and spend the day with their mothers. The symbol of the holiday was a special, mother's cake, which was presented to the mother as a sign of respect.

After the spread of Christianity in Europe, festivals began to be held in honor of the Mother Church, a symbol of spiritual power that gives life and protection from danger. Over time, Mother’s Day and Mother’s Sunday began to be celebrated as one holiday: people honored their mothers as fervently as the church.

In the United States, Mother’s Day was first publicly supported in 1872 by Julia Ward Hove, the author of the Republican anthem. Calling for the day to be dedicated to peace, she organized mass Mother’s Day rallies in Boston every year.

In 1907, Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish Mother’s Day as a national holiday. Jarvis persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia, to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the second Sunday in May. The following year, Mother’s Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

In an effort to establish Mother’s Day as a national holiday, Anna Jarvis and her supporters began writing to ministers, businessmen and politicians. Their efforts were crowned with success, as in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson officially declared Mother’s Day a national holiday, celebrated annually on the second Sunday in May.

On this day, mothers are also honored in Germany, Finland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. In other countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days of the year.

In popularity among Americans, Mother’s Day is in fifth place after Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter and Christmas. On this day, all sons, regardless of their relationship with their parents, should visit their mother, give her a symbolic gift, spend some time with her.