The History of Mother's Day and Who Was Anna Jarvis

It would be funny if a company like Hallmark invented Mother's Day, however -- no gold star.  Mother's Daycan be traced back to the Greek dedication to Rhea.  Rhea was the mother of many deities.  Other cultures had similar dedications like the Romans to Cybele -- the Great Mother of Gods or the Christians and their dedication to Mary -- Mother of Christ.  

Over a 150 years ago, Mother's Day in a different form came to the United States.  A homemaker named Anna Jarvisstarted a fund raiser called "Mother's Work Day".  The fund raiser was for the sick in here community.  She named the organization "Mother's Work Day" because she thought Mothers would most likely be her volunteers.  Only after Anna Jarvis death did Mother's Day become what we know it as today.  Anna's daughter, in remembrance of her mother petition for a Mother's Day.  Anna's daughter, also named Anna went to businessmen, politicians, and others to plead for a national day to remember mothers.  In 1914, Mother's Day became official with a white carnation as it symbol.

Originally, people celebrated Mother's Day by going to church or sending their Moms a letter.  By 1923 Anna (the daughter) was quoted "I'm sorry I ever started Mother's Day".   Anna never saw Hallmark coming -- she was angry that Mother's Day had turned into a profit.  Anna (the daughter) died in 1948 hating Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is always the 2nd Sunday in May