The Story of Mother's DayThe earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honour of Rhea, whom the Grecians consider as the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter), "Mothering Sunday" honoured the mothers of England.
During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.
During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.
In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass every year.
In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state.
Here's a look at the different dates Mother's Day is celebrated around the world for 2007.In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state.
2nd Sunday in February - Norway
March 3 - Georgia
March 8 - Afghanistan, Algeria,Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Laos, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria,China, Romania, Slovenia, Belarus, Ukraine, Vietnam, Russia
March 18 - Ireland, United Kingdom, Nigeria
March 21 - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Sudan,United Arab Emirates, Yemen
April 20 - Armenia
May 6 - Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain
May 8 - South Korea
May 10 - Mexico, much of South America, El Salvador, Guatemala, Oman, Pakistan
May 13 - Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Croatia, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
May 26 - Poland
May 27 - Bolivia, France, Haiti, Sweden
May 30 - Nicaragua
August 12 - Thailand
August 15 - Belgium, Costa Rica
November 10 - Malawi
20th Jumada al-thani - Iran and other Muslim sects, especially Shias. The date is the (disputed) birthday of Fatima Zahra. The Islamic calendar is lunar so it cycles relative to the Western calendar.
On Saturday night, I had sent text messages to quite a number of the lady teachers in the school (including Puan Siti Arfah) and also to a few of my friends and relatives wishing them Happy Mother's day. I think they must have thought that I had gotten the date wrong and they politely replied my sms by thanking me and not reminding me that Mother's Day is on May 13 and not May 4. Well, I did this with a motive as I wanted them to remind me but no one did. I am sure none of them know that some countries celebrate this day on the first Sunday of May. I remember the first year when I was studying in England, I sent my mum a Mother's Day card on the second Sunday of March and when I called home to wish her, she told me that I was two months early with my wishes. Well, I told her in England everyone celebrated it in March.
Anyway, what I am really trying to say is that we should not only think of honouring our mothers on one special day a year. Mothers are special people, without them there will be no us. We should not take our mothers for granted 344 days of the year and only remember to take them out for a meal, give them presents and say we love them only on Mother's Day. Why not do it as often as we can!
In my next two posts I would like to tell you the story of two young men who have impressed me with their love for their mothers, so please, please, please read what I write.
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