Do You Know the History of Mother's Day?

Actually, the roots of Mother's Day celebrations date back to ancient Greek civilization. The ancient Greeks held spring celebrations in honor of the mother of the gods. In the 17th century, the English celebrated a day known as Mothering Sunday. The English Mothering Sunday celebrations took place within the first forty days after Easter each year.


As Christianity spread across Europe, these celebrations transformed into tributes of love and respect honoring the Virgin Mary. Later, with the support of the Church, people began honoring their own mothers as well. In America, the first Mother's Day was celebrated in 1872 at the suggestion of Julia Ward Howe. Although the central theme of the celebration was mothers, the idea of a peaceful life was also at the forefront.

In 1907, Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia launched a campaign for Mother's Day to be celebrated nationwide. She requested that the celebrations be held during the second week of May — the anniversary of her own mother's passing. Her request was granted the following year at the state level. By 1911, the celebrations had spread throughout the entire country, and in 1914, Mother's Day was officially proclaimed a day of celebration to the whole world.


Mother's Day was first celebrated in our country on May 9, 1955. From that day to this, every year on the second Sunday of May, poems, kind words, writings, and memories about mothers are published in newspapers. In provinces where branches of the Turkish Women's Union are located, "Mothers of the Year" are selected. Speeches on the theme of a mother's love are broadcast on radio and television. Gatherings are organized in schools across the country in honor of Mother's Day. At these gatherings, poems read aloud, folk songs, and songs performed are all dedicated as gifts to mothers. Special films are screened and exhibitions are organized for Mother's Day.


Whether she has carried the one she calls "my child" in her womb or in her heart, we celebrate Mother's Day for all selfless women… We wish our mothers who are still with us long and healthy lives, and for our mothers who are in Heaven, we pray for God's mercy…