Mother’s Day: How Did it Become a Festival and Why Do We Celebrate Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is a special day to appreciate the bonding of mothers and children and to express our gratitude towards our moms. However, did you know that it is the result of the strenuous efforts of a woman that Mother’s Day became a special day to be celebrated across the US and other countries on the second Sunday of May?

If not, then here is our guide to let you know why we celebrate Mother’s Day. Keep reading.

Mother’s Day Origin 

The story of the present-day Mother’s Day celebrations goes back to a woman named Anna Jarvis. Her mother, Ann Jarvis, was a peace activist who worked for promoting peace and friendship during the American Civil War (1861-65) and also took care of the wounded soldiers during the war. 

Once Anna overheard her mother saying that there should be a day commemorating mothers’ efforts and services where everyone should feel thankful towards their contribution to society,

When her mother died in 1905, it became a mission for Jarvis to make Mother’s Day recognisable across the country. The same year, she organised a memorial for her mother at the St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia where currently, the International Mother’s Day Shrine is located.

In the next few years, she campaigned relentlessly for the cause and finally in 1910, her home state West Virginia declared a holiday for the occasion. Later on, in 1914, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States of America signed the proclamation and the country declared the second Sunday of May a national holiday.

Subsequently, other countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, Italy, Singapore, and Belgium, adopted the same date as an official Mother’s Day celebration.

Mother’s Day in Different Countries

Presently, Mother’s Day is observed in more than forty countries and is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the world. However, there are certain differences in celebrations among different countries.
For example, in Mexico, Mother’s Day celebrations happen on the 10th of May and along with children making gifts for their moms, it also includes churches holding special masses.

In Egypt and several other middle eastern countries, the celebrations take place on the 21st of March, the first day of spring. Thailand holds celebrations in honour of its queen on 12th August. In Russia, people used to celebrate Mother’s Day on the 8th of March, which is currently International Women’s Day but now they celebrate on the last Sunday of November.

Mother’s Day Celebrations

Irrespective of various dates for Mother’s Day celebrations and hundreds of names for calling mothers, one thing that’s common in these festivities is – honouring mothers’ and women’s efforts in making this world a better place. The day is meant to remind us of what our mothers do for us and we should be grateful for their endless efforts. 

Mother’s Day celebrations usually include festivities, dinners, lots of pampering and of course, gifts. Children including adults organise parties, and celebrations for their moms and greet their mothers with flowers, cards and gifts. Along with biological mothers, it is also a day when people show their love to their stepmothers, moms-in-law, grandmothers, and so on. 

Now even though we should and we must appreciate our mother’s services and love throughout the year, this particular day is dedicated to doing something special and meaningful for our mothers. In our day-to-day lives, we often forget to express our gratitude towards our mothers. This is why we all should use this opportunity to make our mom feel happy, cherished and valued in our lives. Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

For more information on Mother’s Day, celebration ideas, gifts and activities, visit www.pepshep.com.