Celebrate Your Mom This Mother’s Day
Did you know Mother’s Day can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans? These civilizations would hold special festivals honoring the maternal goddesses Rhea and Cybele, respectively. However, the Americanized version of Mother’s Day that we know and celebrate today wasn’t an official calendar holiday until President Woodrow Wilson made it so in 1914. President Wilson’s resolution was a result of the efforts of a woman named Anna Jarvis, whose inspiration for the holiday stemmed from her own mother.
Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis was a social worker and activist who wished that someday someone would honor all mothers, both living and dead, and pay tribute to the efforts and sacrifices made by mothers. When Mrs. Jarvis passed away in 1905, her daughter Anna took to fulfilling her mother’s wishes for a mother’s day. Her efforts started with sending carnations, her mother’s favorite flower, in the church service to honor her mother. Anna’s follower count grew, and they began writing to public officials lobbying for the declaration of the holiday. By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union and on May 8, 1914, President Wilson signed Mother’s Day into the calendar.
Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated with presenting moms with flowers and gifts to show our appreciation. Let us help you say “thank you” to the wonderful mothers in your life.
