Mother’s Day 2023: History, Significance, and Celebration

Mother’s Day is a special occasion celebrated globally to honor and appreciate mothers. This year, it was celebrated on May 14th. It is an important day as it gives us an opportunity to express our love, gratitude, and affection toward our mothers.

About Mother’s Day

Date

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates in different countries. In most countries, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. In 2023, it was celebrated on May 14th.

History of the Day

Mother’s Day has ancient roots, and its origin can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who celebrated the maternal goddesses Rhea and Cybele with festivals. The celebration was later adopted by Christian traditions as a way to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. The day was renamed Mothering Sunday.

Origins of the Day

• The modern Mother’s Day celebration, however, originated in the United States and was first observed in 1908.
• The founder of the modern Mother’s Day celebration was Anna Jarvis, who wanted to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had passed away in 1905.
• Ann Reeves Jarvis was a social activist who worked to improve public health and promote peace during the American Civil War.
• Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother’s legacy by establishing a day to celebrate all mothers.
• In 1908, Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother’s Day celebration in West Virginia, where she held a memorial for her mother.
• She later campaigned to have Mother’s Day recognized as a national holiday in the United States, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
• Since then, Mother’s Day has become a popular holiday worldwide, and people celebrate it in different ways.

While the holiday is celebrated on different dates in different countries, it is usually observed on the second Sunday in May in most countries. The day is celebrated to honor and appreciate mothers and mother figures for their love, care, and sacrifice.

Significance

Mother’s Day is a day to honor and celebrate motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is a time to express love and gratitude towards mothers for their selfless care and support.

How is it celebrated?

Mother’s Day is celebrated in different ways around the world. Some common ways include:

• Gifting flowers, cards, or other presents to mothers
• Preparing special meals or taking mothers out for brunch, lunch, or dinner
• Spending quality time with mothers, such as going on a walk, watching a movie, or doing a fun activity together
• Making phone or video calls to mothers who live far away
• Honoring the memory of mothers who have passed away
• Supporting and helping mothers in need, such as single mothers or mothers with health challenges.
• Many families also gather together on this day to spend quality time with their mothers and celebrate their special bond.

Quotes on Mothers

• “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” – Mahatma Gandhi
• “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling
• “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln
• “A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” – Princess Diana
• “There is no role in life that is more essential than that of motherhood.” – Elder M. Russell Ballard
• “A mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” – Marion C. Garretty

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