Have you ever wondered about the history of Mother’s Day?
In South Africa, Mother’s Day is celebrated each year on the second Sunday in May, similar to the United States and several other countries.
While many of us celebrate with her favourite flowers and breakfast in bed, the origins of this beloved day stretch far back into history. Across the globe, nearly every culture has developed a way to honour their own mother and the maternal figures who shape their lives. So, where did it originate from?
The History of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family or any mother-like figure in your life. It is the celebration of motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence that mothers have in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.
“Mothers are like glue. Even when you can’t see them, they’re still holding the family together.”
Susan Gale
Celebrating Mothers in Ancient Greece: A Festival for Rhea
May is springtime in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the earliest version of Mother’s Day was a spring celebration in ancient Greece. It was an annual festival dedicated to the goddess and honoured Rhea, the mother of many of the well-known Greek gods.
Celebrating Mothers in Church: Mothering Sunday
Christians had a Sunday version of Mother’s Day, where they celebrated the Virgin Mary. It was then changed in the United Kingdom to a holiday celebrated by all mothers, which was named Mothering Sunday. This version was celebrated in March, and the US and South Africa celebrated their Mothering Sunday in May.
Anna Jarvis and the First National Mother’s Day
The Mother’s Day holiday as we know it is largely credited to Anna Jarvis, an American activist who, in 1908, held a memorial service at a church in West Virginia, USA, to honour her late mother. Her mother had worked to promote health and welfare for women and children, and was known for organising Mother’s Friendship Day events that brought together families during the Civil War.
Anna’s efforts eventually led to the recognition of the first national Mother’s Day in the United States in 1914. Over time, the holiday has evolved to become a day for expressing love, gratitude, and appreciation for mothers and mother figures.
Mother’s Day As We Know It: It’s Not Only About The Gift Giving
Over the years, Mother’s Day has become all about celebrating our mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, and mother-in-laws. We spoil them with gifts, make cards, and surprise our moms with breakfast in bed or a lunch out somewhere nice.
It is known as the day we give our mothers a “day off” to relax, to thank them for all they’ve done for us.
“It may be possible to gild pure gold, but who can make his mother more beautiful?”
Mahatma Gandhi
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