Days of our Mother

Days of our Mothers

Mother's Day is a worldwide celebration of motherhood. The present festival arose in the US, where it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. On Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, the practice of permitting women who had married away to visit their hometowns and their mothers emerged throughout the Middle Ages. Lent was Christian religious observance that lasted for a period of 40 days and usually ended in Easter celebrations. This was adopted as Mothering Sunday in Europe, where it persisted until the contemporary era despite being mainly displaced by Mother's Day.

Mother's Day as we know it was created by Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, whose mother had organized women's associations to encourage friendship and health. After her mother's death she began a major letter-writing campaign to media and notable politicians, arguing that holidays were biased towards male achievements, and urged the establishment of a unique day honouring motherhood. Her perseverance paid off in 1914 when the President signed legislation officially designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Unfortunately, this success was short-lived. With the rise of Fordist economy the onus completely shifted from the day's feminist origins to a more capitalist view. What was once a day of honour became connected with the mailing of cards and the exchange of presents, and in protest of its commercialization, Jarvis spent the last years of her life fighting to abolish the holiday she had created.

On a more positive note, mother goddess festivals have existed in various eastern cultures since long before colonization. Today, with globalization, these festivals have taken a more hybrid meaning and way of celebration. Due to its long tradition of Confucian filial piety in China, the second day of the fourth lunar month is celebrated as the day of motherly devotion. An important tradition is the gifting of lilies, which in Confucian times were planted by mothers to express their grief when their children left home. Taiwan also observes Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May, although their holiday is a little different. The government declared the Buddha's birthday to be on that day in 1999. In addition to recognizing mothers, the predominantly Buddhist community may also observe the Bathing Buddha Festival, during which Buddha statues are washed with water to represent the kindness shown to infants and a new beginning.

Nepal has a mother-related festival that predates the West's Mother's Day: it's called Matatirtha Aunsi, which translates as "mother pilgrimage fortnight." The holiday falls on the first new moon in Spring. Traditions include the gifting of money, flower necklaces, and fruit, while those who have lost their mothers give an offering of ceremonial grains called Shidha Daan, bathe at shrines, and gaze at their reflections in the holy water. It was believed that in doing so, one might see one's own mother reflected as well. Some countries have maintained ancient festivals; for example, Durga-puja, which honours the mother goddess Durga, is still an important 9-day festival in India. Women celebrate by wearing specific colours to represent various facets of motherhood. After sunset there are traditional communal dances where people partner up to celebrate. Different cultures, different traditions but the core message is the same! To show our love, admiration and respect to that one person who made our life possible.