Countdown to Mother's Day - Week 3

In the grand scheme of things, Mother's Day is a relatively new holiday in the United States and many other countries, although celebrations to honor motherhood have occurred throughout the world for thousands of years.  The Greeks honored Cybele, who was originally an even older Anatolian mother goddess, starting somewhere in the 6th century BCE.  The Romans stole the worship of Cybele to hold their own festival of Hilaria Matris Deum.  It was held the day after the vernal equinox, when days are finally longer than nights, to much rejoicing and competitive games to honor "the mother of the gods".   In the lands of the Celts, the goddess Brigid (and later her Christianized successor, St. Brigid) was honored with a spring Mother's Day just about the time ewes gave their first milk.

Crocheted neon green cotton cuff bracelet with handmade "LOVED" polymer clay beads by Nancy of Wyverndesigns

The first unofficial service in the U.S. honoring mothers was held at St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, pioneered by Anna Jarvis in memory of her mother who had died in 1905.  The first Congressional bill to officially establish a Mother's Day was killed in 1908.  However, by 1909, Mother's Day services were held in 46 states plus Canada and Mexico.  Anna Jarvis kept lobbying for the holiday and in 1912, West Virginia became the first state to adopt an official Mother's Day.  A joint resolution was passed in 1914 by Congress and President Wilson signed it to establish a holiday emphasizing women's roles in the family.   

"Dark Dreamer" dichroic glass pendant wire wrapped in argentium silver handmade by Jo of Umeboshi

By 1920, however, Anna Jarvis was becoming increasingly outspoken about the rampant commercialization of Mother's Day, wanting the it to be a day of sentiment and not of profit.  She opposed the selling of flowers and the use of greeting cards, "a poor excuse for the letter you are too lazy to write".   She sued the Governor of New York and criticized Eleanor Roosevelt about their handling of Mother's Day activities.  Sadly, Anna Jarvis never had children, and died blind and penniless.  She is buried next to her mother in Grafton, West Virginia.  

Despite the sad end story of Anna Jarvis, many countries adopted her holiday and it is now celebrated through most of the world, usually in the spring.  The tradition has grown to where usually a gift or card is given to mothers, grandmothers or other maternal figures.  In the United States, according to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year to eat out.  

Copper star and crescent moon charm earrings with teal blue and green Czech glass beads handmade by Barbara of SolanaKaiDesigns

"Mom" keychain cut with a scroll saw, handcrafted in two different woods, oak and walnut, by Kevin of KevsKrafts