Mother's and Father's Day
Mother's Day dates back to ancient cultures in Greece and Rome. In both cultures, mother goddesses (Queen of Heaven). were worshipped during the springtime with religious festivals. The ancient Greeks paid tribute to the powerful goddess Rhea, the wife of Cronus, known as the Mother of the Gods (Queen of Heaven). Similarly, evidence of a three-day Roman festival in Mid-March called Hilaria, to honor the Roman goddess Magna Mater, or Great Mother, dates back to 250 BCE.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration of the "Mother Church" replaced the pagan tradition of honoring mythological goddesses. The fourth Sunday in Lent (Weeping for Tammuz), a 40-day fasting period before Easter, became known as Mothering Sunday. To show appreciation for their mothers, they often brought gifts or a "mothering cake" (Jeremiah 7:18) and over time, it began to coincide with the celebration of the Mother Church. Mother's Day always falls on the second Sun-day of May, and like so many other holidays rooted in pagan sun-worship including Father's Day which always falls on the third Sun-day of June, usually fall on the day named in honor of their most powerful god -- The Sun!
http://www.nazarite.net/evil-holidays.html
History of Mother's Day (Mothering Sunday)
by Margaret E. Walker
Historians believe that our modern day tradition of honouring our mothers dates back to the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. Mother goddesses were worshipped in both of these cultures during the spring and in religious festivals. Rhea, powerful goddess and wife of Cronus, was also known as Mother of the Gods. There is evidence of a mid-March festival to honour the Roman goddess Magna Mater, or Great Mother which dates back to 250 BC. The celebration of the "Mother Church" replaced the pagan festivals during the spread of Christianity throughout Europe.
Since it was believed that the Mother Church was spiritual power that gave life and protected from harm it was customary for people to bring gifts to the church. In Europe during the middle Ages, the fourth Sunday in lent became known as mothering Sunday. Most poor folk were employed as servants of wealthy landowners, and therefore forced to live in the home of their employer. They were allowed to return home on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and often brought small gifts or a "mothering cake" also known as Simnel Cake. The cakes, prepared ahead used dried fruit, as these would keep and travel well during the journey home, which would have been made on foot, or if one was fortunate, by horse and cart.
"I think it must somewhere be written that the virtues of mothers shall be visited on their children, as well as the sins of their fathers." Charles Dickens Modern tradition of Mother's Day
Julia Ward Howe, author of the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, was the first person to suggest that America adopt a day when all mothers should be honoured. She saw Mother's Day as a day dedicated to peace. The suggestion was not taken seriously however, although she held Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Massachusetts every year.
The celebration of Mother's Day as a holiday in the United States is attributed to Mrs. Anna Jarvis, who dedicated her life to promoting the holiday. She was inspired by her own mother's devotion to the raising of a family of eleven children. On the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday in May, Anna Jarvis convinced her mother's parish in West Virginia to hold a celebration of Mother's Day. The church was decorated with her mother's favourite flower, the white carnation, a symbol of sweetness, purity and endurance. Mother's Day - the day of flowers The white carnation was originally worn to symbolize a mother who has passed away and a red carnation for one who is living. However, many other flowers are now accepted as being significant on Mother's Day. In 1910, West Virginia officially recognized Mother's Day, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it a national holiday.
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/SEASONS/mothers_day_history.html
Mother's Day dates back to ancient cultures in Greece and Rome. In both cultures, mother goddesses (Queen of Heaven). were worshipped during the springtime with religious festivals. The ancient Greeks paid tribute to the powerful goddess Rhea, the wife of Cronus, known as the Mother of the Gods (Queen of Heaven). Similarly, evidence of a three-day Roman festival in Mid-March called Hilaria, to honor the Roman goddess Magna Mater, or Great Mother, dates back to 250 BCE.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration of the "Mother Church" replaced the pagan tradition of honoring mythological goddesses. The fourth Sunday in Lent (Weeping for Tammuz), a 40-day fasting period before Easter, became known as Mothering Sunday. To show appreciation for their mothers, they often brought gifts or a "mothering cake" (Jeremiah 7:18) and over time, it began to coincide with the celebration of the Mother Church. Mother's Day always falls on the second Sun-day of May, and like so many other holidays rooted in pagan sun-worship including Father's Day which always falls on the third Sun-day of June, usually fall on the day named in honor of their most powerful god -- The Sun!
http://www.nazarite.net/evil-holidays.html
History of Mother's Day (Mothering Sunday)
by Margaret E. Walker
Historians believe that our modern day tradition of honouring our mothers dates back to the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. Mother goddesses were worshipped in both of these cultures during the spring and in religious festivals. Rhea, powerful goddess and wife of Cronus, was also known as Mother of the Gods. There is evidence of a mid-March festival to honour the Roman goddess Magna Mater, or Great Mother which dates back to 250 BC. The celebration of the "Mother Church" replaced the pagan festivals during the spread of Christianity throughout Europe.
Since it was believed that the Mother Church was spiritual power that gave life and protected from harm it was customary for people to bring gifts to the church. In Europe during the middle Ages, the fourth Sunday in lent became known as mothering Sunday. Most poor folk were employed as servants of wealthy landowners, and therefore forced to live in the home of their employer. They were allowed to return home on the fourth Sunday in Lent, and often brought small gifts or a "mothering cake" also known as Simnel Cake. The cakes, prepared ahead used dried fruit, as these would keep and travel well during the journey home, which would have been made on foot, or if one was fortunate, by horse and cart.
"I think it must somewhere be written that the virtues of mothers shall be visited on their children, as well as the sins of their fathers." Charles Dickens Modern tradition of Mother's Day
Julia Ward Howe, author of the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, was the first person to suggest that America adopt a day when all mothers should be honoured. She saw Mother's Day as a day dedicated to peace. The suggestion was not taken seriously however, although she held Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Massachusetts every year.
The celebration of Mother's Day as a holiday in the United States is attributed to Mrs. Anna Jarvis, who dedicated her life to promoting the holiday. She was inspired by her own mother's devotion to the raising of a family of eleven children. On the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday in May, Anna Jarvis convinced her mother's parish in West Virginia to hold a celebration of Mother's Day. The church was decorated with her mother's favourite flower, the white carnation, a symbol of sweetness, purity and endurance. Mother's Day - the day of flowers The white carnation was originally worn to symbolize a mother who has passed away and a red carnation for one who is living. However, many other flowers are now accepted as being significant on Mother's Day. In 1910, West Virginia officially recognized Mother's Day, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it a national holiday.
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/SEASONS/mothers_day_history.html