HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE TO CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY

I hear people say “There shouldn’t be a specific day to let your mother know how much you love her. Every day should be Mother’s Day”. I don’t deny. I am pro the idea of making our mothers feel special daily. But let me ask you something, do you celebrate your birthday daily? No! But does it mean we do not love ourselves or not buy or do things we love for ourselves. No again! However, on ourbirthdates we make sure we keep ourselves happy and positive and try to celebrate with people or things we love. Then why is having one particular occasion to focus all our love and attention on our mothers a bad idea? Love your mom daily but focus this one entire day out of the year in celebration of the blessing that is mother. I am sure this was the motto behind all wise men and women around the world who in the history of mankind put together the idea to celebrate Mother’s day. This Mother’s Day 2019, let’s get to know the origin of this merriment in different parts of the world. rnOrigin in England & Ireland: rnThe concept of celebration for mothers started in England and Ireland as ‘Mothering Day’. Dating back to the 16th century, the fourth Sunday of every Lent, exactly 3 weeks before Easter, was observed an event to extend gratitude to Mother Mary - the Mothering Day. Throughout the year, people would regularly visit their nearest chapel, known as the ‘Daughter church’. But oncean year, on this occasion people would visit their ‘mother’ church, the place where they got baptized, to pray and thank the beloved mother of Jesus. Later, this tradition took a shift towards a more secular holiday during the Victorian times. It was the time when children, especially daughters, working as servants for the elite class would get a work off to visit their mothers and families. Thus it kept the essence of the celebration of mother and her love alive. Origin in Ancient Greece & Rome:rnTo the ancient Greeks and Romans, the celebration of motherhood meant honoring mother Goddesses Rhea and Cybele. This celebration later merged with Mothering day being celebrated after Mother Mary and then took shape to the modern time celebration dedicated to a person’s own mother. rnOrigin in America:rnIn the year 1858, Ann Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized “Mother’s work Days” to improve the sanitation and averts deaths from disease-bearing insects and sewage polluted water. In 1905 when Ann died, her daughter Anna Jarvis started a campaign for an official holiday to be recognized in the name of mothers throughout the country. In 1908, in West Virginia, the first celebration of it took place when Jarvis held a public memorial for her mother. It was celebrated more and more throughout America as the years passed by. Finally, around the First World War, President Wilson signed a proclamation making an official holiday to take place on the second Sunday of May. Jarvis put forth the idea that this event must be in the honor of each mother individually and hence the apostrophe in Mother’s. It’s a singular-possessive, signifying that it is a celebration for one’s own mother. rnOrigin in India: rnThis celebration is not a tradition in the culturally diverse Indian subcontinent. But it has gained significance over the past decade like many other American holidays. We are only few years short of calling Mother’s Day a traditional festival of the millennial India. Although, we do celebrate Navratri in the name of Goddess Mother Durga, which though closer to this celebration, is not exactly like the west. In the metropolitan cities of India, this event is rather celebrated in its full-fledged form which cakes, presents, decorations like the Americans. However, it would still take few more years for it to spread across different states and cross cultural boundaries. Origin in Japan: rnBefore World War 2, the Japanese Christian incorporated this American merriment to celebrate Mother’s day as per American traditions. It was later boycotted being classified as a western practice. However, in 1948, it gained back popularity as a tradition being dedicated to mothers who lost their children in the Great War. It is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. The essence of motherhood in every part of the world remains the same. Remember, your mother is the only person who stands by you when the rest of the world changes sides. I hope you make sure to make this celebration in 2019 count.