History of Mother's Day

Why is Mother’s Day celebrated?

It’s just a few more days before Mother’s Day and the excitement is floating in the air. Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring motherhood observed throughout the world. The dates and celebrations vary in different countries; however, it traditionally involves giving gifts to mums with any forms of gifts from flowers, items, cards, experiences, and other presents.

Celebrating this special day annually is a big thing, but do you know how Mother’s Day began? Let’s take a quick look at how it all started.

When did Mother’s Day begin?

The origin of Mother’s Day is dated back to the Middle Ages in the United Kingdom and some parts of Europe. During this period, a Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday” is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Originally, this major tradition involves people who had moved away from their family or where they grew up will come back to visit their homes or “mother churches” and their mothers. This time was seen as an opportunity for children who left home to work when they were at a young age to return to the main church in their home’s vicinity for a special service and at the same time meet up with their families again. Since the dates of the Christian Lent vary every year, so does the Mothering Sunday’s date. Over time, this custom has been repositioned into a more secular holiday wherein children will present a token of appreciation to their mothers. In the 1930s and 1940s, the tradition’s popularity ultimately faded before merging with the Mother’s Day version in America.

Origin of Mother’s Day in America

Meanwhile, in the US, the origin of Mother’s Day is traced back to the 19^th century by a woman named Ann Reeves Jarvis who taught local women how to properly care for their children. However, it was only in the 1900s that the official Mother’s Day holiday emerged due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Jarvis. Following her mother’s death, the idea of Mother’s Day was conceived as a way of honouring the sacrifices that mothers made for their children. Soon after, it was made into a national holiday celebrated every second Sunday of May each year.

Mother’s Day Around the World

Did you know that there are different versions of Mother’s Day being celebrated around the world? The traditions usually vary depending on the country. For instance, the Mother’s Day celebration in Thailand happens in August on the birthday of their current queen. Meanwhile, the date of Mother’s Day in the UK is different from most countries since it is linked to Easter, which changes date every year. In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day observance is unique as well. Each fall, the families gather to sing songs and feast at a large banquet to honour motherhood.

The Best Gift for Mother’s Day - Time

Learning the history of Mother’s Day imparts essential lessons: spending time with mothers and showing appreciation through material gifts or service. Giving your mum the gift of time is considered the best Mother’s Day gift. As much as material presents are a great way to show how much you appreciate your mum, the most priceless gift is simply spending time with her and bonding. It will not only bring you two closer but bring benefits to her as well such as eliminating loneliness, getting rid of depression, and other factors affecting her quality of life. Wondering what things to do when spending time with your mother? Here are some ideas to help.

• Take her out for a meal
• Go on a picnic
• Enjoy a Spa Day
• Hang out at home
• Go to the beach
• Embark on a day trip
• Take mum on a shopping spree

These are just some ideas that you can do or hopefully will help spark enthusiasm in planning an epic day for mum. There are so many activities you can do either only you two or with the entire family, and even though you don’t like the activity, just go for it since it’s her day.

How will you spend Mother’s Day this year?