MOTHER’S DAY: A DAY TO THANK MOMS
May 14, 2023 2023-05-14 0:00MOTHER’S DAY: A DAY TO THANK MOMS
Two or three days ago, I had a disagreement with my mother and she's not speaking to me. Trust me, I'm really sad about it and I have tears in my eyes as I'm writing this letter to you all but I'm not trying to speak to her too, as she might need some 'alone time'. Sometimes it's important to give people time and space when they're hurt or angry. But perhaps today I'll apologise to my mother. And I hope she'll forgive and forget.
You might be wondering why I'm saying all this. It's because today is Mother's Day and I want each one of you to realise how wonderful our mothers are and be thankful for all that they do. And the ones who have lost their mothers, please don't be sad. You can celebrate the mother figures around you, for example, your grandmothers, aunts, teachers, elder sisters, and even the helpers who take care of all your needs like a mother would.
Now let me tell you a bit more about Mother's Day. Every year, the second Sunday in the month of May is celebrated as Mother's Day to honour mothers worldwide. Although the dates and traditions may vary in various parts of the world, it has become a day for people to express their heartfelt love for their mothers and mother figures through gifts, cards and sweet gestures.
Origin of Mother's Day
The history of Mother's Day dates back to ancient times but the modern observance of the holiday began in the early 20th century. In ancient times, the Phrygians held a festival for Cybele, the Great Mother of the Gods, as did the Greeks for the goddess Rhea, and these celebrations were held in Spring and were dedicated to fertility and motherhood.
Early Christian celebrations of the 16th century had Christians in England celebrating a day called "Mothering Sunday." On this day, people returned to their mother church, which was the main church or cathedral in their area, and families would come together and children would present flowers or small gifts to their mothers. It continued into modern times, although it has largely been replaced by Mother’s Day.
In the United States, the origins of Mother's Day can be traced back to the efforts of Julia Ward Howe, an abolitionist and suffragette. However, the modern Mother's Day was championed by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, an American social activist, whose mother had organised women’s groups to promote friendship and health. After her own mother's death in 1905, Jarvis campaigned to establish a national holiday to honour mothers. On May 12, 1907, she held a memorial service at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia. Within five years, every state in US was observing the day, and in 1914, US President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in the United States. This official recognition led to the widespread celebration of Mother's Day in the US. Since then, Mother's Day has been adopted by various countries around the world. Over time, the day was expanded to include grandmothers and aunts, who are mother figures.
Meanwhile, Jarvis later became a vocal critic of Mother's Day due to its commercialisation. Jarvis initially envisioned Mother's Day as a day of personal appreciation, where people would honour their own mothers with sincere intent and gestures of kindness. As Mother's Day gained popularity, Jarvis became disillusioned with its commercialisation and felt that the true meaning of the day was being overshadowed by the sale of greeting cards, flowers and gifts. So, in protest against the commercialisation of Mother's Day, Jarvis spent the last years of her life trying to abolish the holiday she herself had brought into being! Significance of Mother's Day Mother's Day serves as a reminder of the immense importance of mothers and motherhood. It is a day to express love, appreciation and recognition for the selfless love that mothers provide. Motherhood is challenging, so celebrating one's mother is a way to show appreciation for her irreplaceable role in the family and Mother's Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate and strengthen the mother-child bond, foster emotional well-being and promote a culture of gratitude and respect for mothers and motherhood. It is a way to acknowledge the significant role mothers play in nurturing and raising children. Celebrating mothers highlights the profound impact mothers have on their children's lives and highlights their guidance, support and influence in shaping their children's character, values and overall development. Apart from biological mothers, Mother's Day is dedicated to honouring mother figures such as grandmothers, aunts and other women who have played a significant maternal role in one's life as it provides an opportunity to express gratitude for their love, sacrifice and unstinted support. It also provides an occasion for family members to come together, express love and appreciation and create sweet memories. Mother's Day Celebrations Mother's Day celebrations vary across different cultures and countries but they often involve giving gifts such as flowers, cards, chocolates, etc. to mothers and mother figures. Sometimes people may celebrate Mother's Day by going out with their families to have a special meal together, going out for a family outing or organising a small party to honour mothers. Spending quality time with mothers is an essential part of Mother's Day. It may include going for a walk, having a picnic, watching a movie together or writing heartfelt letters or cards, preparing breakfast for one's mother or doing household chores to give one's mother a break from her regular responsibilities. In some communities, Mother's Day is celebrated with public events such as concerts, parades or special cultural programmes dedicated to honouring mothers and celebrating motherhood. Although the activities and traditions while celebrating the day might vary, the underlying sentiment remains the same – to honour the immense impact of mothers in our lives. So, how are you going to celebrate today?
