Every 2nd of May, we celebrate Mother’s Day around the world. It is to honor and to celebrate all the sacrifices of all mothers out there. Carrying you for 9 months, a day to give them warmth and effort is not much compared to all the pain they have gone through and that is why this celebration was given birth. Since it is a celebration around the world, every country and place have various traditions and even have their own ways of celebrating it. Let’s dig deeper into the History of Mother’s Day and some trivia we might never know of this prestigious holiday.
History:
According to history.com, ancient Greek and Romans have celebrations for motherhood that can be dated back before the modern celebration of Mother’s Day in the 1900s. Ancient Greek holds the festival of their Goddess Rhea, the wife of Cronus and mother of deities in Greek mythology. Ancient Romans have their own spring festival which is called Hilaria in honor of their maternal Goddess Cybele, this festival is celebrated every 15th of March and making offerings to Cybele’s temples.
As part of the lenten Traditions, early Christians celebrate and honors the Virgin Mary and are held every fourth Sunday of Lent. This celebration was then known as “Mothering Sunday” and is widely celebrated in the UK and other parts of Europe, which is surprising doesn’t have any connection with mothers at all. The word “mothering” refers to “mother church” which means the main church or cathedral of a region. Over time, this holiday became a celebration for the mothers which allowed children to bring gifts and flowers to honor their moms.
According to national geographic, mother’s day actually started as an anti-war movement to promote global unity after the American Civil War and Europe’s Franco-Prussian War. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day and became a holiday. Later on, even the founder, Anna Jarvis hated Mother’s Day, and those who are trying to raise some funds for the mothers, according to her, are just using the holiday to collect some funds which are not very promising to her. In 1948, Jarvis disowned the holiday and wished for it to be removed after being placed on the American Calendar.
Contemporary Mother’s Day Celebration and Traditions:
Mother’s Day across the globe has different variations and is celebrated uniquely. Whether it’s bringing some flowers to your moms, giving gifts, or a token of celebration, it is widely celebrated for all moms. It’s a legal holiday in most countries such as the USA, Australia, Canada, and Thailand. In Ethiopia, they have an Antrosht festival which is dedicated to the mothers, they prepare a meat hash and sing and perform dances that tell stories of family heroes. In Japan, you’ll see carnations( a flower that symbolizes motherhood in Japan Culture) is presented during the March holiday. Originally, children gave red carnations for their mother who is living and white carnations for the mother who is deceased. Today, white has become a traditional color.
Up to this day, Mother’s Day celebrations include, giving cards, flowers, and cakes. Even holding a family gathering and spending time with your moms, reminiscing childhood memories and experiences is also part of the celebration. But regardless of what you give or prepare to your mother’s, let’s not forget how deep and unconditional their love is! Do you have any plans for Mother’s Day? Maybe now is the time for you to gift her massage for a year!