Celebrating Mothers

In many parts of the world, the second Sunday of May has long been special for mothers – Mother’s Day.

First observed in the United Sates in the early 1900s, the many traditions associated with the day stems from the efforts of Anna Maria Jarvis, who, in 1905, campaigned to have Mother’s Day recognized as a holiday in the US.

In 1911, her efforts to have a day meant to celebrate mothers bore fruit, as various states in the country began observing the holiday that year. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, signed a proclamation that designated the second Sunday of May as a national holiday to honor mothers, and the observance of the day has spread out to different parts of the world.

So… Does this mean that mothers were only celebrated after Mother’s Day was established? Certainly not!

Here are takes on other celebrations that’re held to honor mothers other than Mother’s Day.

DURGA PUJA

Also known as Sharodotsava or Durgotsava, the Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival that’s observed in the Indian subcontinent in October.

A 5-day festival, the event is held to mainly honor Durga, the goddess of mothers, and the celebration is believed to date back to the sixteenth century.

Widely regarded as a religious and socio-cultural festival, family reunions are typical of Durga Puja festivals, with most families spending the time preparing food, gathering gifts and decorating their homes for the festival.

FLOWERS FOR MOTHERS

In the Land of the Rising Sun, a version of Mother’s Day became popular after World War II – one which was taken as a way to comfort mothers who had lost their son(s) to the war.

Typically observed in March, this Japanese version of Mother’s Day is tied with the practice of giving carnations to honor mothers, with the flower said to symbolize the sweetness and enduring virtues of motherhood.

Initially, the tradition involved having children give red carnations to mothers, while they displayed white ones to honor those who have already passed away. The tradition has changed in time, with white becoming a standard color.

THE ANTROSHT FESTIVAL

In Ethiopia, a festival known as the Antrosht festival is observed as one which honors motherhood and family.

Traditionally observed at the end of the rainy season by around September, it is distinct in the sense that it brings families together for a large meal, singing and dancing.

The festival entails having family members preparing meals together, then take part in performing songs and dances that tell the stories of a family’s prominent members – which basically sets it as a time for families to get together and share stories of their relatives’ adventures and exploits.