Next Sunday is Mother’s Day for most of the world, but how did it start and why? In America Mother’s Day is a relatively new tradition that was started in 1907 by Anna Jarvis, after her mother died, who organised the first Mother’s Day service of worship and celebration in Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia.
Mother’s Day started out as Mother’s Day Work Clubs, which Jarvis formed to address public health issues. She and another peace activist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe had been urging for the creation of a “Mother’s Day For Peace” where mothers would ask that their husbands and sons were no longer killed in wars – 40 years before it became an official holiday, according to Wikipedia.
In 1920, Hallmark Cards started selling Mother’s Day cards, which angered Jarvis as the commercialisation of Mother’s Day was not what she had originally intended, but has made Mother’s Day with the giving of presents what it is today.
However, in the United Kingdom, Ireland and many Commonwealth countries Mothering Sunday, or Mother’s Day as it is known today, is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent (March) which started in the Middle Ages to honour their mother church where people were christened and became a child of the church.
In modern Britain, ‘Mother’s Day’ has become another term for Mothering Sunday in commercial contexts due to American influence, but it continues to be held during Lent. The day has also gained secular observance in Britain as a celebration of motherhood, following the American tradition, rather than its original religious meaning, according to Wikipedia.
Why only celebrate mothers one day a year?
Everyone has a mother and most appreciate the sacrifices that she makes to ensure that her family is well cared for, supported and loved, but why is there only a one day a year to celebrate the core of most families? Surely, your mum should be loved and cherished every day of the year.
As mothers are such an integral part of the family, shouldn’t we be showing our appreciation of everything they do, every day of the year? Instead of taking her out for a special meal once a year, wouldn’t it be better if once a week the family made sure that she had a complete day off? Everyone else pitching in to do the housework, cooking a meal and letting her put her feet up with a good book or a film, especially as most mothers nowadays work full time as well, wouldn’t that be more indicative of appreciating everything else that a mother does?
Author Luffina Lourduraj says “She sacrifices her dream to make my dream come true,” about mothers, which is generally true.
According to the website, 20 Quotes About Mothers That Are Beautiful and Heartwarming (goalcast.com):
“She is the only woman in the world that will constantly forgive your lies, no matter how big they are. She will still give you that warm smile just minutes after you misbehaved and made her angry as hell.
“Mothers leave all their personal needs behind so their children can have everything they need. They will not sleep or eat until you come home and they know you’re safe and sound. Mothers will protect their children with the price of their own lives.
“She’s tired, she tries her best and maybe she still doubts her mothering “skills”, but a few kind words will brighten up her day and give her enough strength to carry on and do what it takes to make you an even better person than you are today”.
Does anyone ever notice how tired mothers often look? They have so much to do, running a household, holding down a job and the myriad of other things that a mother has to do? Have you looked at your mum closely lately? Go on, have a good look, what do you see?
Think about these things when you head out on Sunday to treat your mum to that meal or when choosing the present to give her. Your mum needs celebrating every single day, because without her you would not be the person you have or could become.
