Mothers Day And It's Origin
Author: Amy Nutt

The Ancient Greek and Roman cultures can be said to be the
originators of the tradition of honoring our mothers. The
religious festivals and spring were the time when mothers were
specifically honored. Coming to the contemporary origination of
the mother's day celebration in present day United States, it
was Julia Ward Howe, author of the words of the Battle Hymn of
the Republic who purported that a day should be decided upon to
be celebrated as Mother's Day. This would be a commemoration to
peace according to her.

However she wasn't taken seriously, but still continued to hold
mother's day meetings in Massachusetts every year. Finally it
was Mrs. Anna Jarvis who got the credit of getting mother's day
celebrations formalized in the United States. Her inspiration
was her own mother, who dedicated a lifetime for the upbringing
of a family of eleven children. On the second death anniversary
of her mother, the second Sunday of May, she convinced her
mother's parish in West Virginia for mother's day celebrations.
Her mother's favorite flower, the white carnation was used to
decorate the church.

Since then the white carnation has been a symbol of a mother
who has passed away and a red one for a living mother. This
though has changed over the times and now many flowers are
accepted as signifying a tribute to the mother. In 1914,
President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's day a national
holiday. In the United States the traditional way of
celebrating this day is to bring your mother flowers and take
her on a special meal.

The white chrysanthemum in Australia has taken the place of the
white carnation as it is the most prolific flower in May.  In
Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Australia and Belgium,
the second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother's Day while
some other countries do that on another day. Sweden and France
celebrate it on the last Sunday of May and is more like a
family birthday to them.

There is a great connection between Mother's day and spring for
in Lebanon it is celebrated on the first day of spring and in
South Africa mother's day celebrations happen on the first
Sunday of May. The festival Durga Puja in honor of the divine
mother is celebrated as a ten day elaborate affair in India. In
Spain and Portugal mother's day is celebrated on December 8th
when they not only honor their own mothers but also the Virgin
Mary.


About The Author: Tidys Flowers for your mothers day flowers
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