Mother's Day is widely celebrated around the world and has a rich history, stemming from a profound love and respect for mothers and motherhood.
Understanding the history and significance of this day may enable us to celebrate mothers in meaningful ways and to cherish them even more. The idea of honoring mothers came from the ancient nations' adoration of mother deities, as stated by VS Daily.
Greeks also honored Cybele, the mother of all gods, with festivals during Hilaria, the Roman spring festival honoring the mother goddess Cybele.
However, Mother's Day as we know it now originated in the United States in the early 20th century.
The originator of the current Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis began the holiday in 1908 as a remembrance of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis.
Following her treatment of wounded soldiers during the American Civil War, Ann went on to advocate for peace and subsequently worked to improve public health. Anna wanted to honor her mother's unselfish achievements, so she launched a campaign for a national holiday celebrating mothers.
Furthermore, Mother's Day was formally established in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson announced that the second Sunday in May would be Mother's Day, officially establishing the holiday after years of campaigning by Anna Jarvis.
Since then, mothers have been the subject of annual Mother's Day celebrations and expressions of appreciation for their undying love, sacrifice, and devotion.
