A special day dedicated to mothers and mother figures.
Mother’s Day, a day dedicated to mothers, is not a public holiday (even though we believe it should be) but falls on the second Sunday of May, which will be on 10 May this year. We get to spend the day with our mothers, having quality time and showing our appreciation for them fulfilling the most all-in-one jobs on earth.
Origin of Mother’s Day
We might have memorable occasions with our mothers, but this has not been the case for centuries. The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back as far as the ancient Greek and Romans.
The Ancient Greeks honoured Rhea, the wife of Cronus, during an annual spring festival to honouring the maternal goddesses. She was the mother of many deities of the Greek methodology. The Ancient Romans also hosted a spring festival called Hilaria, and their Roman mother goddess was Cybele. Romans would bring offerings to Cybele’s temple that lasted for three days, and included parades, games and masquerades.
Early Christians also celebrated Mother’s Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honour of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. But the idea of an official Mother’s Day was suggested in 1872 in the United States by Julia Ward Howe. The activist, writer and poet held annual meetings in Boston to dedicate 2 June as the annual celebration of mothers. It should’ve been devoted to peace, but her project eventually died out.
Then in 1908, activist Anna Jarvis created the day when she campaigned a national observance day in honour of her mother. Her mother was a community health advocate who specialised in child-rearing and public health issues. Jarvis wanted to commemorate her hard work, but unfortunately, the day was commercialised when President Woodrow Wilson declared as an official US holiday in 1914. It then became a day of “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”
Mother’s Day today
Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated across the world because they play an essential role in our lives. They are always there through thick and thin, encouraging us and giving advice when we need it most.
It’s a tradition for mothers to wear a pink or red carnation, while someone else may wear a white carnation for a mother who has passed away.
In appreciation, we send our mothers, grandmothers, and other mother figures in our lives, flowers, cards, or other homemade gifts. And if we can’t be with them in person, a telephone call.
As mentioned earlier, the most important thing to give your mother is quality time. We suggest spending the day with your mother and showing her everything you can offer.
Surprise your mother with her favourite breakfast in bed with a DIY Mother’s Day card, and a special message handwritten inside. She’ll enjoy this because she gets to lie in and eat a meal she didn’t prepare. If you’re not able to see your mother, order some necessities to be delivered to her door, and give her a call to just talk – talk about this and that, and show interest in what she’s been up to recently.
Spend some quality with her outdoors, having your own little tea party. Brew her favourite tea, or coffee, and prepare some delicious snacks. You won’t be able to book her a spa day, but get creative and offer to wash her feet, massage her feet with oil and give her a simple pedicure. This way, she can just relax and talk her heart out.
One of the best gifts you can give your mother is a jar of memories. Write every single memory with your mom involved on small pieces of pretty paper – family traditions, things you’ve done together, something she said or says a lot, and the best advice she’s given you. Roll these papers tightly and place them in a jar. Decorate the jar, and give it to her to read in her spare time. This way, she can relive these special memories at any time she wants.
No matter how you choose to spoil your mother, make it worth it, even with the smallest gesture.
Happy Mother’s Day, Sandton!
