May 2006 - WhitecourtWeb.com

PAGE 10 Whitecourt Advisor MAY 2006
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Honouring Mom through the ages
These cards show the changing styles of Mother’s Day
cards through the years.(NC)-Mother’s Day is fast approaching
and children of all ages will be expressing their sentiments
for mom through cards and gifts. “What many don’t realize is
the concept of celebrating mothers actually goes as far back
as the ancient Greeks,” says Denise Darragh spokesperson for
Hallmark Canada. “Of course it wasn’t about cards or special
brunches at first.”
Mother’s Day was once devoted to honouring goddesses
that represented motherhood. For the Greeks it was Rhea, the
Mother of the Gods. The Romans paid homage to Cybele, a
mother goddess. In the British Isles and Celtic Europe, people
celebrated the goddess Brigid - along with the first milk of the
ewes in spring.
In 17th century England, Mothering Sunday was celebrated
on the fourth Sunday of Lent, in which servants were
given the day off to spend time with their mothers.
In North America, the idea started in the late 19th century
with Julia Ward Howe, who was haunted by her experiences
during the Civil War, and wanted to establish a Mother’s Day
as a celebration of peace.
Mother’s Day as we know it today, really took root in
1907 with Anna M. Jarvis, a woman who persuaded her
church to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary
of her mother’s death. The idea took hold, and by 1911,
Mother’s Day was made official in the United States - to be
followed by Canada in 1914.
The Mother’s Day card first appeared on the scene in the
1920s. Today, it is estimated that over 9 million Mother’s Day
cards will be exchanged across Canada. These include cards
that address all the various relationships that make up today’s
families - from stepfamilies and ex-in-laws to Dads-as-Moms,
Dad’s wife, and friends.
“The ways people celebrate the occasion today are as
varied as the mothers themselves,” adds Darragh. “But the
one continuing theme is expressing love and appreciation for
moms with cards and gifts.”
For card and gift suggestions for Mother’s Day visit www.
hallmark.com or call 1-800-268-3230. - News Canada