history Earliest History of Mothers Day History of Mother's Day: Mothering Sunday History of Mother's Day: Anna Jarvis History of Mother's Day: Present Day Celebrations

The earliest history of Mothers Day dates back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses. The Greeks used the occasion to honor Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology.

Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. It may be noted that ceremonies in honour of Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. The celebration made on the Ides of March by making offerings in the temple of Cybele lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades. The celebrations were notorious （臭名昭著的） enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome.

Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers. It was then called Mothering Sunday.

The more recent history of Mothers Day dates back to 1600s in England. Here a Mothering Sunday was celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter) to honor mothers. After a prayer service in church to honor Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers.

O n t h e o c c a s i o n, s e r v a n t s, a p p r e n t i c e s a n d o t h e r e m p l o y e e s s t a y i n g a w a y f r o m t h e i r h o m e s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e i r e m p l o y e r s t o v i s i t t h e i r m o t h e r s a n d h o n o r t h e m. T r a d i t i o n a l l y c h i l d r e n b r o u g h t w i t h t h e m g i f t s a n d a s p e c i a l f r u i t c a k e o r f r u i t - f i l l e d p a s t r y c a l l e d a s i m n e l. Y u g o s l a v s a n d p e o p l e i n o t h e r n a t i o n s h a v e o b s e r v e d s i m i l a r d a y s. C u s t o m o f c e l e b r a t i n g M o t h e r i n g S u n d a y d i e d o u t a l m o s t c o m p l e t e l y b y t h e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y.

Anna Jarvis is recognised as the Founder of Mothers Day in US. Though Anna Jarvis never married and never had kids, she is also known as the Mother of Mothers Day, an apt title for the lady who worked hard to bestow honor on all mothers. Anna Jarvis gotinspiration of celebrating Mothers Day from her own mother Mrs Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis in her childhood. An activist and social worker, Mrs Jarvis used to express her desire that someday someone must honor all mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them.

A loving daughter, Anna never forgot her mothers word and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to fulfill her mothers desire of having a mothers day. Growing negligent attitude of adult Americans towards their mothers and a desire to honor her mothers soared her ambitions. To begin with Anna, send Carnations in the church service in Grafton, West Virginia to honor her mother. Carnations were her mothers favoriteflower and Anna felt that they symbolised a mothers pure love. Later Anna along with her supporters wrote letters to people in positions of power lobbying for the official declaration Mothers Day holiday. The hard work paid off. By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

Today Mothers Day is celebrated in several countries including US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and Belgium. People take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. The day has become hugely popular and in several countries phone lines witness maximum traffic. There is also a tradition of gifting flowers, cards and others gift to mothers on the Mothers Day. The festival has become commercialised to a great extent. Florists, card manufacturers and gift sellers see huge business potential in the day and make good money through a rigorous advertising campaign. It is unfortunate to note that Ms Anna Jarvis, who devoted her life for the declaration of Mothers Day holiday was deeply hurt to note the huge commercialisation of the day.

Mothers are everything for us when we are small...our lives revolve around her. For everything that we need we call mother. To protect us from all perceivable dangers we want her around us. To take us out we hold her arms. To kiss away our wounds we run to her. And for a warm hug and love we look for her. She is the focal point of our lives, the greatest human being in the world or should we say divinity on earth. On the special occasion of Mothers Day pay tribute to your mother - the greatest blessing of God on you. Do you celebrate Mother’day?

History Japan Thailand China

The history of Children’s Day In November 1949, the Women’s International Democratic （民主的） Federation council （理事会） meeting was held in Moscow. Representatives from China and other countries exposed the deviltry （恶行） of the imperialist （帝国主义者） and reactionaries （反动派）,who kill and poison children. In order to protect the children’s rights,such as health, being educated and to improve children’s life conditions. The meeting set the annual June 1 as International Children's Day 年 11 月，国际民主 妇女联合会在莫斯科举 行理事会议，中国和各 国代表愤怒地揭露了帝 国主义分子和各国反动 派残杀、毒害儿童的罪 行。为了保障世界各国 儿童的生存权、保健权 和受教育权，为了改善 儿童的生活，会议决定 以每年的 6 月 1 日为国际 儿童节.

Japan In Japan, Children’s Day is a national holiday celebrated on May 5. Originally commonly known as Boys‘ Day, whereas Girls’ Day was celebrated separately on March 3. The holidays were merged( 合并 ) in Girls’ Day

Doll's Day This festival is for wishing girls growth and happiness.

Thailand There is a Thai saying that goes, “Children are the future of the nation, if the children are intelligent, the country will be prosperous( 繁荣的 )." Thailand National Children’s Day is celebrated on the second Saturday in January. Many organization from both government and commercial sector （商业部门） have celebration activity for children. Children can enter special areas. special areas

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China In the People's Republic of China, Children's Day is celebrated on June 1 and is formally known as "International Children's Day".When the People's Republic of China was first established in 1949, the State Council designated a half-day holiday for all primary schools children on June 1. This was later made into a full day's break in 1956 with the announcement by the State Council to make June 1 Children's Day a One- Day Holiday. Schools usually hold activities such as camping trips or free movies on Children's Day to allow students to have fun, and children of civil servants might also receive small gifts from the government.

However, on June 1, 2008 the day was made even more memorable, as many people remembered the children who died in the earthquake just a few weeks before. But what delighted us was that the survived children could still enjoy the holiday.

We all wish they can enjoy their Children’s Day every year!

Thank you!!~