Word Echoes from SANZ: “Mother’s Day”

Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers on society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.

The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church, which now holds the International Mother’s Day Shrine. Anna Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is the
‘”person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”

In 1912 Anna Jarvis trade-marketed the phrases “Second Sunday in May” and “Mother’s Day” and created the Mother’s Day International Association.
In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the
2nd Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honour mothers.

Although Jarvis was successful in funding Mother’s Day, she became resentful of the commercialisation of the holiday when Hallmark Cards and other companies started exploiting Mother’s day as a gift buying frenzy.
Jarvis believed that the emphasis of the holiday was on sentiment, not profit – Jarviz argued that people should appreciate and honour their mothers through handwritten letters expressing their love and gratitude,
instead of buying gifts and pre-made cards.
She specifically noted that “Mother’s” should ”be a singular possessive commemorating all mothers in the world.”
The United States holiday was adopted by some countries whilst others honoured motherhood on different dates s.a.
“Mothering Sunday” on the 4th Sunday of Lent in the UK or in Greece, Eastern Orthodox celebration of the presentation of Jesus Christ to the temple (2 February) or in Bolivia where the Mother’s day is the date of a battle in which women participated.

The celebrations may vary, but the emotion and love that ties families together are the same the world over.
It serves as a reminder of what all moms do for their families every single day and the honour they deserve because of it.

Mothering is not for the faint at heart and it is a lifelong journey of being a real warrior,
yet no other gift in the world will be more special that the gift of MOTHERHOOD:
We walk with You;
We Salute You!

BLOGGER: HELEWISE ARENDS