Tracing the Ancient Roots of Mother's Day Celebrations

This episode explores the rich history and evolution of Mother's Day celebrations across cultures and time periods. It traces the ancient origins of honoring motherhood through fertility rituals and mother goddess worship in civilizations like ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. It then chronicles how the modern Mother's Day holiday was established by Anna Jarvis in the early 1900s and her campaign to make it a nationally recognized day in the United States. The article examines how Mother's Day expanded globally, with various countries adapting their own cultural traditions and customs to celebrate mothers. Additionally, it looks at the significant commercialization of the holiday over time by businesses marketing Mother's Day gifts and services. Ultimately, the article reflects on how contemporary Mother's Day festivities both uphold and diverge from the original intentions behind the holiday's creation.