Starting in ancient time with such commemorations as the Greek festivals honoring the goddess Cybele, and the Roman celebration of Matronalia, mother’s, the givers of life, have been respected, admired and revered in some way. Now, Mother’s Day is one of the few holidays celebrated all over the world. In the United States, it Falls on the second Sunday of May.
In 1870, five years after the end of the Civil War, Julia Howe imported the British custom to the United States to unite women against war and to bring attention to the women who had endured the hardships of the residue of war. It was then called Mother’s Day for Peace. It is said that her inspiration came through a West Virginia woman called Ann Jarvis. Jarvis had organized women to address safety and sanitary conditions and to treat the wounded Civil War soldiers on both sides and to bring peace between the divided factions of her neighbors.
Howe’s attempt to establish Mother’s Day for Peace met with failure. However, in 1905, Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Jarvis held a memorial service for her mother. Attended by more than 407 people and their mothers, the site on which the memorial was held later became the International Mother’s Day Shrine. In 1910, President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day.
A day that was originally designated to celebrate peace became the official day to celebrate mothers. Because of its commercialization and the fact that the day had become something other than its original intent, in 1920 Anna Jarvis protested against it.
Though not every country celebrates on the same day, all of the world celebrates their mothers. And we celebrate all of you. In our eyes, you are all outstanding women. So, though it’s a little early, from all the CLEVER DIVAS to all the mothers out there.
Blessings,
Diva Elizabeth
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