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Ancient Mothers Day Celebrations

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morticia View Drop Down
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  Quote morticia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Ancient Mothers Day Celebrations
    Posted: 11-May-2006 at 23:22
As Mothers Day is soon approaching (on May 18th), I did a little research to see if there were ancient celebrations honoring mothers. Heres what I found:

1.     Ancient Greeks celebrated a holiday in honor of Rhea, the mother of the gods

2.     Ancient Romans celebrated a holiday in honor of Cybele, a mother goddess (March 22-25).

3.     In the British Isles and Celtic Europe, the goddess Brigid, and later her successor St. Brigid, were honored with a spring Mothers Day, connected with the first milk of the ewes.

4.     During the 1600s, England celebrated a day called Mothering Sunday on the 4th Sunday of Lent, honoring the mothers of England.


Sources: http://www.cafepress.com/elixircafe/576757
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybele
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_(mythology)
http://www.religioustolerance.org/top_mont_03_feb.htm


Can you share other ancient celebrations for mothers or motherhood?
"Morty

Trust in God: She will provide." -- Emmeline Pankhurst
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Mila View Drop Down
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  Quote Mila Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-May-2006 at 23:29
Yay!   Morticia's first post in the Her Story forum.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina we celebrate International Women's Day, which includes - of course - mothers. Men buy flowers and little gifts for their female relatives, friends, coworkers, and others.

It's a big cultural event also. The plays Desdemona, Magdalena, and Fatima are almost always performed at each of the national theatres in major cities across the country. Television programming is slightly different - there are always western "Chick Flicks" on and women guests host many of the major shows, including television news programs.

The monument to mothers in Sarajevo is a favorite place to visit and lay flowers on this day. So it's all kind of like a mother's day celebration but the thing is it's not exactly ancient.

The day, though, has absorbed some other ancient practices. Flowers have always been associated with gifts for women in Bosnia and, I assume, in lots of places. There are lots of paintings and carvings from long ago with women holding flowers in baskets in their hands. I've also seen one of a man handing a woman a flower. So I assume that part is ancient.

You also have the last Friday in August, when Muslims traditionally here celebrate Kosaca and other mothers.
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morticia View Drop Down
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  Quote morticia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-May-2006 at 23:39
Thank you Mila...what a great job you have done here! I congratulate you and hope to assist you in any way that I can.   


Western "chick Flicks".. , you watch those, girl?

I'm curious to see how mothers are honored in other cultures.
"Morty

Trust in God: She will provide." -- Emmeline Pankhurst
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