Mother's Day in United States

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood occur throughout the world and can often be traced back to ancient festivals .One of the earliest historical records of a society celebrating a Mother deity or Mothers Day can be found among the ancient Egyptians, who held an annual festival to honor the goddess Isis, who was commonly regarded as the Mother of the pharaohs. The ancient Greek cult to Cybele or the Roman festival of Hilaria are also examples. The modern US-celebration of Mother’s Day is not directly related to any of these.

Some holidays, like Thanksgiving, are unique to the United States. Others, like Mother’s Day, are celebrated on various days in various ways by nations around the world. The U.S. is among some 52 countries that celebrate Mother’s Day today, the second Sunday in May.

In addition to the U.S., Hungary, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Sweden, United Kingdom and Ireland also celebrate Mother’s Day, though not necessarily today.

It makes sense that Mother’s Day is a day celebrated internationally: Each of us has a mother. And that alone seems worth celebrating.

In the U.S., Mother’s Day traces its roots to Ann Jarvis, who in 1868 created a committee to establish a “Mother’s Friendship Day” to reunite families divided by the Civil War. She died in 1905 without seeing the fruits of her efforts, though.

So her daughter Anna Jarvis continued the push until President Woodrow Wilson made the day an official national holiday in 1914. He proclaimed it as a day for American citizens to display the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.

a few more years of political action and Jarvis working full time to have federal legislation pass, but in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed the official National Observance of Mothers Day for the Second Sunday in May.

What is particularly noteworthy in the history of the day is its most recent origins in peace and unity. Both Howe and Jarvis were committed to these ideals as they worked to the national observance. It is a remembrance that perhaps our churches would do well to remember today!

Of course, the day is one filled with giving flowers and pampering Mom. Restaurants tend to book solid, flower shops are well stocked, the phone lines are jammed, and everyone tries to make sure Mom knows how much she is loved.

Tomorrow, as we take time to honor Mom, let us also honor the spirit of Mother's Day by also working for peace, unity, and celebrating the universal quality of motherhood.