Mother’s Day origins
Julia Ward Howe, a Boston writer, poet, suffragist and activist.
By LILLIANNE MATAI
MOTHER’S Day is celebrated by families across Fiji on the second Sunday of May. Mother’s Day brings joy, laughter, merry-making, love and appreciation for many families, and most importantly the appreciation we have for our mother’s many years of hardwork, sacrifice and dedication.
On Mother’s Day we also celebrate those that played mother figures and showed children that love does not always lie in the hands of their biological mothers but also in the ones who showed sincere love and support in their upbringing.
While reflecting on this ... have you ever wondered where the thought of celebrating Mother’s Day originated from? Website www.history.com will walk us through the turn of events that led to the official recognition of Mother’s Day.
History of Mother’s Day
The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day traditionally involves presenting mums with flowers, cards and other gifts.
The origins of Mother’s Day as celebrated in the United States date back to the 19th century.
In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia helped start "Mothers’ Day Work Clubs" to teach local women how to properly care for their children.
Another precursor to Mother’s Day came from the abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the "Mother’s Day Proclamation," a call to action that asked mothers to unite in promoting world peace.
Anna Jarvis Turns Mother’s Day into a National Holiday
The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honouring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.
Mother’s Day around the world
While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated worldwide, traditions vary depending on the country. In Thailand, for example, Mother’s Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of the current queen, Sirikit.
Another alternate observance of Mother’s Day can be found in Ethiopia, where families gather each fall to sing songs and eat a large feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honouring motherhood.
At times, Mother’s Day has also been a date for launching political or feminist causes.
In 1968 Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King, Jr., used Mother’s Day to host a march in support of underprivileged women and children.
In the 1970s women’s groups also used the holiday as a time to highlight the need for equal rights and access to childcare.