The Pagan Roots of Mother’s Day: Celebrating the Divine Feminine

Mother’s Day is a well-known holiday, with significant spending on gifts, flowers, and dining out. On the surface, it’s a modern tribute to mothers, and the nurturing love they’ve provided for their children. It originated in the United States with Anna Jarvis, who, inspired by her mother’s activism, campaigned to establish a day to honor mothers, culminating in its official government recognition in 1914. Yet, those who look deeper can see that its origins are from pre-Christian history. The pagan roots of Mother’s Day can be found in many ancient, earth-based spiritual practices and traditions that honored the divine feminine thousands of years before the modern event.

Ancient Origins: Mother Worship in Pagan Cultures

The adoration of motherhood is as old as human civilization. Goddess worship was embedded in most pre-Christian religious traditions, with female deities often associated with fertility, nature, and the cycles of life. Evidence suggests that these practices existed as early as the Upper Paleolithic era, with stylized depictions of the female body found on cave floors. As these ancient cultures shifted from their traditional nomadic lifestyles to permanent living areas, Goddess worship continued. Some examples are the Great Mother Goddess or versions of what we might call Mother Nature, today. Many of these Goddesses were directly tied to fertility, creation, and nurturing. It’s no surprise that the rituals and sacred days for these celebrations would take place in the spring, in perfect alignment with Spring, the season of renewal and birth.

Some notable examples of maternal worship help to validate this claim. In ancient Phrygia (modern-day Turkey), the Goddess Cybele was worshipped as a powerful maternal figure. Her cult later spread to both Greece and Rome, where she was honored in Spring festivals. Hilaria, a Roman festival, included offerings to the Goddess, parades, and traditional games in Cybele’s honor. Another Romans festival is Matronalia, one dedicated to Juno, the Goddess of women and childbirth. The day included gifts to mothers and wives, plus prayers for fertility and health.

In Greek mythology, Gaia, the Earth Mother and her daughter Rhea, the mother of the Olympian gods, were also revered. Spring festivals were often held in their names to mark the earth’s fertility and the cycle of life.

Repurposed: From Pagan Ritual to Modern Holiday

There’s no denying that Anna Jarvis had the same commitment to the celebration of motherhood as those who lived many years ago. In fact, she maintained her belief that the sentimental significance of the day to honor all mothers and motherhood was the primary reason to celebrate. She did this, even as the date became commercialized, and merchants capitalized on developing marketable goods and services to sell to children and husbands. Later in her life, she sought to have the day rescinded, having seen it taken over by the marketers. Yet, in many ways, today’s observances, especially the giving of flowers, spending time in nature, and expressing gratitude to mothers, mirror the ancient customs of offering tokens and celebrating fertility and renewal.

How We Honor the Divine Feminine Today

By recognizing the pagan roots of Mother’s Day, we most certainly can develop a more meaningful perspective on the holiday. It invites us to celebrate not only our own biological mothers but also the concept of nurturing, in general. The maternal spirit of life can be found throughout the natural world, and it’s something that we should all pay attention to. Without fertility, there is no life. Without mother’s, there is no one to bring that life to maturity.

So, when Mother’s Day comes around this year, consider lighting a candle for the ancient mothers, who walked the same lands as we walk today. It’s a nice gesture to give your mother a card and a bunch of flowers but it’s a sacred and universal gesture to honor the power of life itself.

Additional Reading

R.J. (Ralph) Schwartz is an American Poet and Author. His books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Goodreads has a complete catalogue.

His published work on this site, The Creative Exiles, can be found here

He also owns and manages, The Gypsy Thread a website which explores paganism, witchcraft, ritual practices, herbs, and the paranormal.

Ralph also produces freelance articles on a variety of topics on HubPages

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thegypsy

Owner/Admin at The Gypsy Thread

Ralph is a practicing witch, published author, pagan historian, webmaster, and collector of knowledge.He also owns an international creative writing website called The Creative Exiles,