Celebrating a Mother’s Love: A Recognition of Her Unwavering Devotion
Mother’s Day is a day set aside to celebrate mothers, motherhood, maternal bonds, and the impact of mothers in nurturing children who are the future of today and tomorrow. Today we celebrate mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, etc for their love and care in nurturing and caring for their children. Every human being on earth today was born by a mother which is why today is a special day to celebrate mothers for their unique role in the society. This day is observed on various days around the world with the same goal of honoring and celebrating the uniqueness and the incredible honor of being a mother.
History of Mother’s Day
The history of Mother’s Day can be traced back to the 19th century when American women’s peace organizations created regular events that promoted peace and discouraged war. There were gatherings of mothers whose sons fought the American Civil War and lost their lives.
A committee led by Ann Jarvis was established in 1868 to promote a “Mother’s Friendship Day” to bring together families that were separated during the Civil War. In the 1870s and 1880s, there were a few observances, but none of them gained widespread recognition.
Protestant schools in the US were already celebrating a lot at the time, and on June 2, 1872, Julia Ward Howe organized Mother’s Day for Peace, an anti-war observance in New York City that is now recognized as a holiday.
Several years later, on May 13, 1877, a Mother’s Day celebration was held in Albion, Michigan, due to a dispute involving the temperance movement. This celebration honors Juliet Calhoun Blakeley, who filled in for the distraught Rev. Myron Daughterty in her sermon. As a result of her actions, her sons honored her annually and encouraged others to honor their mothers.
After her mother, Ann Jarvis, passed away on May 9, 1905, Anna Jarvis, with John Wanamaker’s assistance, created the present-day Mother’s Day. May 10, 1908, was the day of the formal service; the following year, it was observed in New York.
Afterward, Jarvis pushed for Mother’s Day to become a national holiday in the US and subsequently a global one. West Virginia was the first state to formally establish the holiday in 1910, and the other states swiftly followed suit.
Countries That Celebrate Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is observed on the second Monday of May in many countries across the world, including Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Japan. It is observed on March 21, in many Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iraq.
Mothering Sunday is observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent in several countries, such as the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is observed in several eastern and southern Eurasian countries, including Russia along with International Women’s Day on March 8.
How to Celebrate Mother’s Day
Children celebrate Mother’s Day in various ways but the goal is to make our mothers who have sacrificed a lot for their children feel special. Sending cards and presents is a fundamental aspect of Mother’s Day. It is more of a rewarding day and children go out of their way to make it special for them and appreciate them for their selflessness and love.
One of the popular ways to celebrate mothers is to visit her. Most children on this day create time to travel to meet their mothers. Their presence adds more color to the celebration, while some give gifts to their mother such as clothes, cards, pieces of jewelry, cash gifts, etc.
Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day
There are many ways to make mothers feel special today. Below are some of the ways:
i. Write a heartfelt letter
Send a sincere letter or handwritten note to show your love and gratitude.
ii. Organize a day out
To spend quality time with your mother, plan a fun family adventure, a scenic picnic, or a relaxing day at the spa.
iii. Plan a family brunch
Today many mothers prepare delicacies for their children but you can tell her to relax while you treat her to sumptuous meals. Take your mother out to her favorite restaurant for a delectable brunch or prepare her a homemade dish.
iv. Create a personalized gift
Children can give their mothers photo albums of remarkable times they spent together, or handcrafted gift items which show their care and thoughtfulness.
v. Celebrate virtually
Plan a virtual party with video conversations, and online games, or have your gifts delivered to your mother if you are not in the same location.
Importance of Celebrating Mother’s Day
Below are some of the reasons why Mother’s Day is celebrated. They include the following:
1. Honoring the unwavering love of mothers
Mother’s Day is an occasion to honor the sacrifices, unwavering love, and commitment mothers provide to their children and families. Mothers prioritize the needs of their families before their own, displaying fortitude and selflessness. Their efforts are priceless, ranging from the long hours spent tending to their children to the unwavering support they provide through life’s obstacles. Mother’s Day reminds us to take a moment to recognize the selfless love and care that they provide, and to let them know how much we admire and appreciate them.
2. Strengthening family bonds through celebration
Mother’s Day is a significant occasion to unite families; it’s not only a day for gifts. The day strengthens family ties through spending quality time together, having meaningful conversations, or sharing meals. It gives children a chance to consider how mothers keep families together and help them develop stronger emotional bonds. Families recognize the sacrifices and devotion that serve as the cornerstone of a family’s strength by commemorating this day and making lifelong memories.
3. Taking time to appreciate the little things
It is the little things in life that culminate into big actions and make life and living worthwhile. Mothers through little acts, such as preparing and cooking food for the family, providing encouraging words, or just being a consistent source of love and stability, improve the lives of their children and husbands. Mother’s Day is therefore the ideal occasion to recognize and value these little actions and how they enrich our lives. It’s a time to stop, think, and be thankful for all the small but significant ways mothers demonstrate their love and care, transforming everyday situations into amazing ones.
4. Celebrating every maternal figure
Mother’s Day is a celebration of all mothers who provide nurturing in our lives, even though it generally honors biological mothers. Today the love and support of grandmothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, aunts, and mentors are equally celebrated. These women serve as pillars of knowledge and compassion, making innumerable contributions to children’s development and well-being. On a special day like today, every mother figure who has embodied the spirit of motherhood is appreciated and honored.
Conclusion
Mother’s Day is a significant event that celebrates the devotion, sacrifice, and love of mothers. This day is the ideal opportunity for children to express gratitude to their mothers whether it be through actions, gifts, spending quality time together, etc. Today enduring memories are created as families and the world celebrate our mothers.
