From infancy, mothers offer protection and support, and they are a wellspring of warmth, love, and bravery. They are our closest friends; they support us in our endeavours and chastise us when we make mistakes. Mothers put up a lot of effort to support and set an example for their children. Mother’s Day is a global celebration of motherhood that is honoured in many ways.
Mother’s Day in the United States is observed on Sunday, May 12, 2024. The American version was developed in 1908 by Anna Jarvis, and it was declared a public holiday in 1914. Jarvis then attempted to have it taken from the calendar, even though it had become commercialized. Giving mothers flowers, cards, and other presents is a customary celebration.
Date
Mother’s Day is a global event honouring mothers and maternal figures. The day is devoted to honouring mothers for their unending love, support, and sacrifices on behalf of their families. Mother’s Day is typically observed on the second Sunday in May. In several nations, the date is different, nevertheless. But Mother’s Day falls on May 12, 2024.
History of Mother’s Day
Mother Goddesses Rhea and Cybele were honoured with festivals in ancient Greece and Rome, where Mother’s Day festivities originated. Mothering Sunday, an ancient Christian celebration that was previously widely observed in the UK and other areas of Europe, was observed by Roman Catholic and Church of England congregations on the fourth Sunday of Lent. With time, the custom evolved into a more secular celebration in which kids gave their moms flowers and other little gifts as a way of saying thank you. In the 1930s and 1940s, this tradition lost favour before combining with American Mother’s Day.
During the American Civil War, Mother’s Day as we know it today originated in West Virginia, USA. “Mother Jarvis,” also known as Ann Reeves Jarvis, founded “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to bring attention to the terrible health conditions in her neighbourhood. These clubs turned out to be a potent force for social unification in a divided area. “Mother’s Friendship Day” was established by Mrs. Jarvis following the war to encourage harmony between the Union and the Confederacy.
The United States witnessed a number of attempts to establish Mother’s Day mother in the late 1800s, including the work of abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, who penned the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” which urged mothers to come together and advance global peace.
Mother’s Day Traditions Around the World
Mother’s Day is a worldwide celebration observed by families, with regional variations in customs. Mother’s Day is still observed by giving moms and other women flowers and presents, and it has grown to be one of the busiest shopping days for consumers. In observance of mothers, families also give her a day off from domestic duties like cooking.’
- Every autumn, families get together in Peru for Antrosht, a multi-day celebration celebrating Mom, when they perform songs and feast on a substantial meal.
- In Japan, kids commemorate their mothers with photographs and frequently give them gifts, cards, and flowers on this special day.
- In Australia, the second Sunday in May is dedicated to celebrating mothers, and the typical present given is flowers.
- Every year on day Mother Day Eve, kids in Mexico prioritize spending time with their mothers at home. A mariachi band frequently serenades moms on the morning of May 10 with the tune “Las Mananitas.”
- Given as a sign of the purity of a mother’s love, white jasmine flowers are a customary manner for Thai children to honour their mothers. When moms visit their kids’ schools, every youngster bows respectfully in front of their mothers’ feet.
- On the final Sunday in May, longer church services are held in Haiti to commemorate mothers’ sacrifices via prayers and music. Everybody wears a flower in memory of their mother; lavender flowers are worn in memory of mothers lost years ago, and white flowers are worn in memory of moms who are still living.
- Mothering Sunday is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent in the United Kingdom, which is the week before Easter. Over time, the traditions of this day have resembled those of Mother’s Day in the United States. Unless Pentecost occurs on the same day, May 2nd is also known as “muttertag” in Germany. These days, Mothering Sunday presents are most commonly cards, chocolates, and flowers.
- The goal of Russian Mother’s Day, which falls on the final Sunday in November, is to uphold the custom of treating women with caution and strengthen the bonds that bind families together. Mother’s Day was celebrated in Soviet Russia on March 1st, and gifts for mothers were exchanged on that day as well.
- Mother’s Day is observed in December in the Philippines, however, the official date has fluctuated throughout the years due to political disputes. The first Monday in December was proclaimed as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day by former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1980. On the other hand, Father’s Day was moved to the third Sunday of June and Mother’s Day to the second Sunday of May by President Cory Aquino.
- Unless Pentecost falls on that Sunday, the fourth Sunday in May is usually when France celebrates Mother’s Day. From the beginning, customs have also been remarkably similar to those in the US, with kids offering to help mom with housework and exchanging presents like chocolates and flowers.
Conclusion
To conclude we can say that May 12, 2024, is designated as Mother’s Day Its origins date back to ancient Greece and Rome, and throughout the 1930s and 1940s, it transformed into a secular festival. The American adaptation, created by Anna Jarvis in 1908, was made an official holiday in 1914. Over time, the custom of presenting mothers with gifts, cards, and flowers has changed.