Imperial Valley press., 1926-05-08
9th RS DAY A. GENT

10TH RS DAY CILNT
.- u-. ....l-. ten o. . specific day
-~y recently nl~0e n this cOun-
t4y, t~ cUa.o-.t O. osQ~yl., ma. yeneIatoh dates
back ance4t times. 1t antcdateS tie CHRISTIAN era,
haQ It's rites and ceremonies pagan days and strikes
deep into primitive emotions The particular cere-
mon.es attendant upon the aonorng OF motherhood
have ch~nsed with changing times and the modern
Mothers Day is observed III manner which differs 10
a considerable extent from the ritual of oden days.
Authorities state that the carrier record of formal
mother-worship III tl.e tales OF the ceremonies by
which Rhea. he Great Mother OF the Gods Wor-
shipped IN Asia minor. III this worship 1t was not so
much the tenuer maternal aspect which claimed aten
ton the power and majesty OF motherhood. Rhea
represented traversng the mountains in char
iot drawn by Lions and the ceremonies in her honor
marked by wild dances and wilder music The
lion, the oak and the pine We're sacred to her.
The worship of Rhea introduced into Rome
through Greece about two hundred fifty years before
Christ There it was held on the Ides OF March when
the people made offerings in the temple and was
known as the festival OF HiIaria These offerings in
the temple served to elevate motherhood into some
thing of the dignity which Tighfully characterizes it,
Wlth the advent Of the Christian era, the festival
still retained it's Old forms but infused with
spirit. From the celebration with pagan rites in
of Rhea there developed observance III honor
of the Mother Church. In this celebration it became
the custom Md-Ient Sunday for the faithful to
visit the churches in which they baptized bearing
gifts for the altar.
From this festival of worship in honor of the
Mother Church there grew the observance OF Mother
ing Sunday, though the successive steps in this deve
opment 1t is certain however, that long
ago when young and nlaldens were bound out as
apprentices and servants, -ldLent Sunday was set
aside for them visit their mothers taking for them
little present such as cake or trnket youth
engaged III such pilgrimage was said 10 go a-noth-
erng, from which day came to be called Motherng
Sunday. he O4d bCnus OF flla love were b1ghtened
by this pleasant annual visit marked custom dlctat
ed b. the excitement attendant upon novel and
perhaps surprising git. There was a4sO cAeerlhg
and peculiar testyy appropriate 10 the day the chief
dish beng 1urmety consisting OF wheat grams Doled
in sweet milk and sugared and spced. Another deli
1cfo a
cake which popular especially IN Shropshire, York
shire and HereTorshlre. he inside OF slmnel cake
like rich frult cake but the OUTSIDE was mace OF
t4our and water.
1t is a 1ar cry from this quaint observance IN Eng
land o. AIld-Lent TO American Motners Day. 1hefe
% ..ua III o descent t. t.le pIesen observance
LON t.a o--uay W4,en 1-lg.4sn apprentices went a.
.llerlg g, though tie oueIn leotNa IS perhaps the
CONSCIOUS anu deliberate eI4oIt naton ever maze
to motherhood.
ne observance of the second Sunday in May as
..o.4.e -e become 1i4n--y established III TINS
cOuIty oUJect sett4ng aslde OF this day IS
meInOTles o. mOLnerS VINO nave gone, 10
brighten the i4ves o. those remain, and foster
among men, women and children the love OF their
homes parents he day IS observed by show
ing mother by services IN churches or
every creed and by celebrations OF other organizations
Mothers Day Just received widespread recognl-
ton ABOUT 4J4V VIII was observed Dy number OF
.ne Un4teu ot~Coa Oi 1ay 49, 414o d Ieoo-
uL on passeu Uotn houses OOng4 commencing ne
ouser, cay Uy Congress ana tne executive
departments OF the government. In the year
NEBRASKA 1t nag day IN nonOr or the pa
trlotlsm OF Nebraska's homes In 1914 Congress au-
thorzed the president OF the United States to designate
by annual proca anlatOn second Sunday IN May as
Mothers Day and to display the American flag on
Government Uu4l04ss ana pr%ale MONIES. Inc Ifot
nat4oLaI setting asoe tAs Gay was issued
by president Wilson on May 9, 1914.
Since inception ~ le-eDra,lon OF this day has
spread beyond the fondest expectations of It's founder
People search OF ways and means Of expressing ther
love Ior maze OF various eASllng
services At consisted very largely
OF the wearing OF Wnlte carnations as Deng symDonc
o. purify beauty tcelty and peace o. lotneI love
Some sections OF the country have taken to the wearing
OF red carnations and Cners the wearing or Almost
any flower is considered fitting observance OF he
occ~s.On. C-.les ItIenue eas mothers "A hoSp-
tails and other institutions adopted Tor the day by
business men.
If chairs in the house were as uncomio able as.
church peWs, people wouldn't stay al home.