Mothers Day has always been commemorated as a day where we show love and appreciation to our mothers and women who are mothers for the sacrifices, they have made for us. It is a day where most families take time to show gratitude to women who have been mentors and caregivers.
There are typically two days that the celebration of Mothers Day takes place. The United States celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May and the fourth Sunday in Lent in Britain. Different countries across the globe generally subscribe to one of the two days.
As much as we celebrate this day globally, do we really know the true meaning of Mother’s Day and where it originated from?
History of Mothers Day
There are several notions as to how Mother’s Day came about. One theory says that Mothers Day began with the ancient Greeks and Romans to honour the goddesses of motherhood, Rhea and Cybele.
Others say that Mothers Day in the UK dates to the 1600s where on the fourth Sunday of Lent, there would be a church service honouring the Virgin Mary. Children would buy gifts and flowers to show appreciation to their mothers.
According to Franciscan Media, the concept of Mother’s Day does date back to ancient times. The actual celebration of the day was, however, spearheaded by author Julia Ward Howe in 1872, as a day dedicated to peace.
By the 19th century, the celebration had faded away. Its revival came after the Second World War when American soldiers reintroduced the custom in the UK.
But it is said that an American lady named Anna Arvis is the one who campaigned for Mothers Day to be observed as an annual holiday following her mother’s death. She petitioned her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate a day to honour mothers.
This fell on the same day that her mother passed away which was the second Sunday in May. The church agreed to her request and the following year the city of Philadelphia followed suit. She then led a campaign to have this day celebrated. By 1911 almost every state in the U.S celebrated Mothers Day. In 1914, President Woodrow made it a national holiday.
Celebrating Mothers Day During Covid-19
Two years ago, we celebrated Mother’s Day by going to visit our Mums with special gifts or took them out to expensive restaurants. Fast forward to 2021 and we are living in unusual times as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. We are now observing social distancing rules, limiting visitations to prevent the risk of infection, and following stay at home recommendations. Therefore, we find ourselves for the second year trying to find new ways to celebrate our mothers.
We can find new and creative ways to make this Mothers Day special and memorable just as we did before the pandemic. In fact, we can observe the true spirit of Mothers Day this time round and make it more special for all mothers as they battle to keep families safe and healthy. The pandemic also reminds us how important it is to stay connected to those we love. Here are a few ways to show your Mum appreciation: –
- Organize to have a big bouquet of flowers or gift delivered. Flowers will bring a smile to her face lift her mood and make her day as she will feel valued and cared for. Amazingly, flowers are known to bring a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction to the life of the recipient which is what we want for mothers. Red carnations are the official Mother’s day flowers but it’s best to find out what her favourite bouquet is.
- Virtual gatherings- Zoom doesn’t only have to be for work calls. Host a family get together or online party as you enjoy lunch from different locations. This is vital since most children live away from their parents and rarely spend time together.
- Take a socially distanced walk with the family or have a socially distanced picnic. Taking a nature walk around Karura Forest would create a bond with mothers as you enjoy fresh air round the forest.
- Create a personalized video- Each family member can record a special message to create a special Mothers Day video then share with her. This will affirm your love and affection to her.
- Send a charcuterie takeaway basket. Unlike the traditional French charcuterie that involved meat products, you can customize this basket to her liking. It can include an assortment of her favourite food from various restaurants or home cooked food. You could include nuts, fruits, burgers, bacon etc.
- A customized self pamper kit. Well thought out gift pampers customized to her liking will make her day. MYDAWA has a number of offers on various products that can be delivered within four hours of ordering within Nairobi. We also have 24 hour delivery all across Kenya so you can celebrate that special mum wherever she is in the country.
As we celebrate this Mother’s Day, it is important that we retain the true spirit of Mother’s Day. Let us take the time to appreciate, show and thank our mothers for all they have done for us. As the former United Nations Secretary-General said, “We face multiple challenges in our changing world, but one factor remains constant: the timeless importance of mothers and their invaluable contribution to raising the next generation.”
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