Some
tribes of people, like the Assam in Africa, don't call themselves families.
They call themselves "maharis", or "motherhoods."
Rosa
Parks was the mother of bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that launched
the Civil Rights Movement.
Chinese
family names are often formed (begin) with a sign that means
"mother". It's a nice way of honoring their moms long past.
The
ancient Greeks celebrated Mother's Day in spring, like we do. They used to
honor Rhea, "mother of the gods" with honey-cakes and fine drinks
and flowers at dawn. Sounds like the beginnings of the Mother's Day
tradition of breakfast in bed!
Mother
Shipton was a Prophetess in Britain 500 years ago. She could see the
future, and predicted that another Queen Elizabeth would sit on the throne
of England. (QE II)
Japan's
Imperial family trace their descent from Omikami Amaterasu, the Mother of
the World.
Julia
Ward Howe wrote the Battle Hymm of the Republic and was a staunch fighter
for women's rights. She staged an unusual protest for peace in Boston, by
celebrating a special day for mothers. Julia wanted to call attention to
the need for peace by pointing out mothers who were left alone in the world
without their sons and husbands after the bloody Franco-Prussian War.
Hindu
scripture credits the Great Mother, Kali Ma, with the invention of writing
through alphabets, pictographs and beautiful sacred images.
George
Washington once said, "My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever
saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the
moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
The
Greek word "meter" and the Sanskrit word "mantra" mean
both mother and measurement.
Mother
Goose is one of the most popular of all children's entertainers. Her books
and stories have been loved for many generations.
Native
American Indian women have long been honored with the name, "Life of the
Nation" for their gift of motherhood to the tribes.
Ancient
Egyptians believed that "Bast" was the mother of all cats on
Earth, and that cats were sacred animals.
Rose
Kennedy once said, "I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of
love and duty, but as a profession that was fully as interesting and
challenging as any honorable profession in the world, and one that demanded
the best that I could bring it."
Buddha
honored mothers when he said, "As a mother, even at the risk of her
own life, loves and protects her child, so let a man cultivate love without
measure toward the whole world."
Mother's
Day is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Australia,
Mexico, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Russia, China, Thailand,
all have special celebrations to honor Mothers, but not in the same way or
on the same day as the United States.
In
the Bible, Eve is credited with being the "Mother of All the
Living."
During
the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday."
Servants would go home to see their families, bringing cakes and sweets to
their moms. This custom was called "going a-mothering". Each
mother would recieve a simnel-cake (Latin for "fine flour) and
mother's would give a blessing to their children.
Anna
Jarvis of Philadelphia began the campaign that brought about the official
observance of Mother's Day in the United states. Her mother died, and Anna
wanted all mothers to be remembered. She asked that white carnations be the
official mother's day symbol. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the
orders that made Mother's Day a national holiday.
Just
nine years later, Anna filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop the over-
commercialization of Mother's Day. She lost her fight. Now, cards, letters,
candy and dinners out mark Mother's Day for most families. Anna had hoped
for a day of reflection and quiet prayer by families, thanking God for all
that mothers had done.
Mother
Earth is also known as "Terra Firma". That title is a Latin
translation of some lines from one of the Greek poet, Homer's, greatest
poems.
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