| Mother's Day began with the ancient Greeks and | | | | evolved into what we today call Mother's Day. |
| Romans. During these ancient times these cultures | | | | In 1907 a woman named Anne Jarvis of Grafton, |
| celebrated for days with festivals honoring the | | | | West Virginia held a ceremony to honor her |
| maternal goddesses of their society. The Greeks | | | | deceased mother who was an activist and social |
| honored Rhea, mother of the gods and goddesses, | | | | worker. Her mother had always wanted to establish |
| whereas the Romans celebrated Cybele, with a | | | | a special day, a holiday that would honor all mothers |
| spring festival that lasted for several days. These | | | | for their accomplishments and contributions to |
| festivals featured games, parades, you might say | | | | society. When she passed on in 1905 it was her |
| carnival like festivities that included entertainment and | | | | daughter Anne who lead the charge to make her |
| food, etc. | | | | mother's dream of a Mother's Day possible. Anne |
| It wasn't until the 1600's in England that Mother's | | | | Jarvis persevered and along with her followers began |
| Day, known then as Mothering Sunday was | | | | a campaign to make Mother's Day an official reality. |
| celebrated. This event took place on the fourth | | | | They wrote letters to politicians in power imploring |
| Sunday of Lent. There was a special prayer service | | | | them to create this special day. It was in 1911 that |
| on this day to honor the Blessed Mother Virgin Mary, | | | | President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution |
| mother of Jesus Christ. After services many | | | | that Mother's Day would be celebrated every 2nd |
| husbands and children bought gifts and flowers for | | | | Sunday of May as an official holiday. |
| their wives and mothers. Interesting to note that a | | | | Today Mother's Day is not only celebrated in the |
| special desert was even served on this day called | | | | United States but is also celebrated around the world |
| Simnel Cake as part of the celebration. | | | | in countries such as England, Finland, Denmark, China, |
| In 1872 Mother's Day was first suggested in the | | | | Japan to name a few. Husbands and sons use this |
| United States as a holiday celebration by the famous | | | | day to honor their wives and mothers to show their |
| writer of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Julia Ward | | | | love and appreciation to these great women we call |
| Howe, an activist of the times. She looked to the | | | | wife and mom. |
| mothers of this era to gather together in a protest | | | | Celebrate this Mother's Day with a gift of jewelry |
| against war and wanted this day to be a call for | | | | from The Gifts4Her Department offers ladies' |
| peace. In 1870 she wrote her famous Mother's Day | | | | necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. They have quality |
| Proclamation calling for all mothers to protest war. | | | | products at reasonable prices as well as no shipping |
| For several years, on the second Sunday of June, a | | | | charges on many items. Whether you're buying a gift |
| Mother's Peace Day was celebrated predominately in | | | | for Mother's Day, a birthday or just to say "I love |
| Boston, Massachusetts, but was never declared an | | | | you", Mall4Men has special gifts to fit that special day. |
| official holiday. In years to come this celebration | | | | |