* 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.
