Among various legends associated with Mothers Day,the earliest tributes to mothers date back to an annual spring festival that the Greeks dedicated to Rhea the mother of many deities and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods ,Cybele.Christians chose the fourth Sunday of their 40 day period of fasting known as Lent in honour of Mary,the mother of Jesus Christ.
In England the scope of the religious holdiay was expanded to include all mothers and the day came to be referred to as Mothering Sunday.
In US ,Mothers Day began nearly 150 years ago when Anna Jarvis an Appalachian homemaker chose this day to raise awareness about the poor health conditions that prevailed in her community a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers.She called it Mother’s Work Day.15 years later Julia Ward Howe a poetess,pacifist and campaigner for the right of women to exercise their franchise encouraged mothers to rally for peace since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.
In 1905 when Jarvis died her daughter who was also named Anna began a campaign to commemorate her mother.Legend has it that young Anna remembered a sunday school lesson that her mother gave in which she said I hope and pray that someone sometime will found a memorial mother’s day.There are many days for men but none for mothers. Since than mother;s day has been celebrated all over the world.