Changes

The popularity ====Early Origin of Mother's Day continued into the ====Mother's Day is a common observance, both religious and secular versions, in many countries, including Christian Era. In fact, many aspects of sacred motherhood were ascribed to the Virgin MaryMuslim, and other countries. The fourth Sunday early history of the Lent season was often reserved holiday connect to remember the Virgin Mary ancient Near East, Greek, and other Old World cultures that celebrated the mother goddess, such as Cybele, Rhea in Greek mythology, and also to bless other similar versions of either mother goddesses or important wives of gods. There is no ancient source that mentions a designated day called Mother's Day, but traditions of celebrating motherhood and mothers , more broadly, the rearing of children have existed perhaps at least since the Pleistocene (Figure 1i.e., before 12,000 years ago). Similar The celebration of fertility, childbearing, child-rearing, and motherhood were important to the pre-Christian traditionspast societies that often had high death rates in childhood but also for mothers. Flowers, this was used as a way key symbol of life, were often associated with motherhood and nurture. Celebrations included offering and sacrifices to pray the mother goddess for good luck. Many of these celebrations took place around the safety time of the spring equinox (March 20), a time often associated with spring renewal, fertility, and health life, but the celebration also occurred at other times of mothers in particular due to the difficulties year.<ref>For more on the influence of childbearing. Thus, traditionally in Catholic Mother goddesses and even Protestant countries that adopted the tradition, religious association with Mother's Daytraditions internationally, or what was called Mothering Sundaysee: Borgeaud, was celebrated exactly three weeks before EasterP. (2004). <i>Mother of the gods: from Cybele to the Virgin Mary</i>.Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press </ref>

The popularity of Mother's Day, or the celebration of motherhood, continued into the Christian Era. In 16th century periodfact, many aspects of sacred motherhood, Mothering Sunday became associated with people returning earlier religions, were ascribed to their mother churchthe Virgin Mary. Symbols associated with The fourth Sunday of the Lent season was often reserved to remember the Virgin Maryand also to bless motherhood and mothers, during which is the Protestant Reformation, led to alternative symbolism on day that became known as Mothering Sundayin Christian Europe (Figure 1). In Protestant EuropeSimilar to the pre-Christian traditions, this meant was used as a way to pray for the church became safety and health of mothers in particular due to the mother difficulties of its flock childbearing. Thus, traditionally in Catholic and peopleeven Protestant countries that adopted the tradition, Mothering Sunday was celebrated exactly three weeks before Easter. People would then return This explains why Europe often has a different date in celebrating Mother's Day, which Mothering Day later transformed to their home churches .<ref>For more on celebrations of Mothering Sunday, see: Ozihel, Harding. (2011). <i>Mothering Sunday</i>. Frac Press.</ref>

[[File:1755212 ac630ac2.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 1In 16th century, Mothering Sunday became associated with people returning to their mother church. Symbols that were associated with the Virgin Mary, during the Protestant Reformation, led to alternative symbolism for Mothering Sunday is a popular holiday in Catholic and . In Protestant countries in Europe, this meant the church became the mother of its flock and people. People would then return to their home churches on Mothering Sunday.<ref>For more on the tradition of returning to your mother church, see: Keene, M. (1998). <i>Introducing Christianity</i>. Berkhamsted: Arthur James.]]</ref>

====Modern Holiday====[[File:Ann Jarvis.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|Figure 2. Ann Jarvis became the woman who inspired Mother's Day in the United States.]]In the United States, Mother's Day developed its own traditions, where it ironically became popular from a woman who never had children. Ann Jarvis (Figure 2), who organized meetings between mothers from opposing sides in the Civil War, attempted to create a day to remember mothers. Her goal was to help reunite families after the war through the creation of what she called Mother's Friendship Day. Others, such as Julian Howe, tried to also create a remembrance day for mothers. These ideas received some local support but never spread in popularity across the United States. Ann Jarvis did, however, inspired her daughter, Anna Jarvis. After the elder Jarvis died, Anna helped create the first modern US Mother's Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia. Anna wanted it to simply be a day to remember her mother for her sacrifice in the local church because that is where her mother taught Sunday School. That day was May 12, 1905, which was 3 days after Ann had died.

In the United States, Mother's Day developed its own traditions, where it ironically became popular from a woman who never had children. Ann Jarvis, who organized meetings between mothers from opposing sides in the Civil War. Her goal was to help reunite families after the war through the creation of Mother's Friendship Day. Others, such as Julian Howe, tried to also create a remembrance Julia Howe. This idea received some local support but never spread in popularity across the United States. She didAnna, however, inspired her daughter, Anna Jarvis. After the elder Jarvis died, Anna helped create the firs modern, US Mother's Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia. Anna wanted it to simply be a day to remember her mother for her sacrifice in the local church because that is where her mother taught Sunday School. That day was May 12, 1905, which was 3 days after Ann had died. Anna became inspired to make this not just a one-time celebration but something relevant to all mothers who sacrifice for their children. She was also inspired by the fact that much celebration focused on male achievement but rarely on women, particularly mothers who often were instrumental for their children's success. In 1908, a larger, official celebration was held in Philadelphia due to her persistence and help from a business owner John Wanamaker, who helped her establish a space for a larger celebration. Before the decade had finished, many churches and secular places began holding Mother's Day celebrations in eastern US cities. Effectively, What Ann could not achieve in life became achieve through her deathand her daughter Anna's efforts.<ref>For more on the history of Mother's Day in the United States, see: Antolini, K. L. (2014). <i>Memorializing motherhood: Anna Jarvis and the struggle for control of Mother’s Day</i> (First edition). Morgantown: West Virginia University Press.</ref>

As By 1910, West Virginia was the US holiday became establishedfirst state to recognize Mother's Day, some of its traditions began with other states quickly following. Jarvis had begun to actively campaign to influence other countries often older have the day remembered as Mother's Day traditions. For instanceWhite carnations, sending flowers Ann's favorite flower and candy to oneused by Anna as the symbol of her mother, became associated with Mother's mother was not Day and the House of Representatives passed a typical form of celebration proclamation in many countries but 1913 making it the official flower worn by government employees on the US version Monday after Mother's Day. By 1914, an act of such gifts began Congress officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. As World War I was about to be adopted by others. In factstart, traditions mixing local customs and celebrations Mother's Day even became more poignant as a celebration of mothers intermixed with US-style celebrationswho gave up their sons in times of war.<ref>For more on how Mother's Day became an official holiday, see: Garrigues, L., & Garrigues, L. (2008). <i>Writing motherhood</i>. New York: Scribner.</ref>

====Recent Developments====Interestingly, after the full adoption of Mother's Day by the US government under Woodrow Wilson, the holiday began to become more commercialized. Already by 1920, the holiday began to be associated with buying a box of chocolates, cards, and flowers for one's mother. This commercialization became denounced none other than Anna Jarvis. The only symbols she wanted were the white carnations, but marketers had other ideas. People began to see it as a day to treat their mothers, to take her away from housework, and also spoil mothers. This meant buying all sorts of products and going to a meal some place for Mother's Day. Advertisers encouraged this offering special deals and other benefits. The floral industry, which Anna had seen as her allies initially soon came into conflict with Anna, who decried their commercial tendencies to increase flower sales on Mother's Day. Anna had such a falling out that she wanted the holiday rescinded as an official day, as she saw that it had become nothing more than a commercial venture. In 1948, the year Anna had died, she had spent much of her remaining money on legal fees fighting what she considered was the abuse of the meaning of Mother's Daythrough various lawsuits.<ref>For more on Anna Jarvis' later attempts against the commercialization of the holiday, see: Antolini 2017</ref>

While Anna ultimately lost her battle against Mother's Day commercialism, where in fact it is today one of the biggest days for spending outside of Christmas, Mother's Day also became symbolically important for other causes. Mother's Day, still one of the few holidays celebrating women, has become, at least in the United States, associated with feminist and minority causes. Protests for greater childcare benefits and paid time off for mothers to nurture their young children have become popular causes that now use Mother's Day as an annual day for awareness.On the other hand, for some, Mother's Day is seen for a call for more celebrating and trying to get society to see the benefits of traditional motherhood and family.<ref>For more on the later significance of Mother's Day, see: Burrell, B. C. (2004). <i>Women and political participation: a reference handbook</i>. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, pg. 34. </ref>

====Summary====Mother's Day is both an ancient and relatively modern holiday. In the United States, its traditions were mostly secular, although celebrated initially in church. For other countries, it was often a religious holiday that celebrated motherhood and even the role mother's played in bringing up children. Many countries today celebrate Mother's Day, where the holiday has a variety of dates around the world, reflecting ancient traditional days but also more recent US influence on the concept of the holiday.