Mother's day is celebrated on the 1st Sunday of the month of May in most countries. To me it is a day to show appreciation to my mum although we should be appreciating our mothers every day this day is somehow different. Its a celebration of mothers.On the 13th of May this year, my mum was in Pakistan due to work and was unfortunately somehow caught up in the whole riot that lead to shootings, and killings in the middle of Karachi.I am so thankful to God that she and her colleagues managed to come back home safely and only suffered a delay in their flight schedule. Anyway, I did get to spend a few hours with my mum for mother's day. That was a great thing.
Here is a brief history on how mother's day came about. The earliest mother's day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter*), "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England.
During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. The servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church" - the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration. People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.
In the United States Mother's day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass every year.
In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. 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 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.
Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.
While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.
And to add some smile..
Mother's Day Jokes
The Stages Of Motherhood
4 Years Of Age - My Mommy can do anything; 8 Years Of Age - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot 12 Years Of Age -My Mother doesn't really know quite everything. 14 Years Of Age -Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either 16 Years Of Age -Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned 18 Years Of Age -That old woman? She's way out of date 25 Years Of Age -Well, she might know a little bit about it 35 Years Of Age -Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion 45 Years Of Age -Wonder what Mom would have thought about it 65 Years Of Age -Wish, I could talk it over with Mom
PS: carnations are flowers associated with mothers. guess ill know what to get my mum next year..
