The Beginnings of Mother's Day

Although the celebration of Mother's Day in the United States was formally created by Anna Jarvis in 1914, the celebration honoring all mothers has a rich and culture-ridden past. In fact, ancient civilizations commemorated an annual holiday which was purely dedicated to motherhood, often symbolized as a goddess of fertility and protection. In Greece, Rhea was considered to be the Greek goddess of the Mother Earth. The Greeks used to celebrate a festival which seeks to honor Rhea, the mother of all the gods and goddesses. The ancient people of Rome moreover worshiped Cybele who was viewed to be the mother goddess. The goddess Brigid was connected with spring Mother's day, honored by the residents of the British Isles and the Celts in Europe.

It was in 1912 when Anna Jarvis started the tradition of celebrating Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Jarvis also founded the Mother's Day International Association. Some countries however, such as Norway, the UK, Israel, Greece, and several other nations, commemorate Mother's Day during various months. The majority of countries however celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, including Australia, United States, and the Philippines.