There's
no day quite like Mother’s Day. This is a time where individuals (of all ages
and ethnicities) take time to show the woman that raised them their devotion
for all they’ve done.
“My mother is my root, my
foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief
that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.” (Michael
Jordan)
Versions
of this holiday are celebrated worldwide.
In Thailand, it is celebrated in August on the birthday of the current
queen (Sirikit). In Ethiopia, families gather each fall to sing, and eat a
feast in celebration of Antrosht (a multi-day festival honoring motherhood).
“I would say that my mother
is the single biggest role model in my life, but that term doesn’t seem to
encompass enough when I use it about her. She was the love of my life.” (Mindy
Kaling)
This Mother’s Day make time to honor
all the integrity that motherhood symbolizes. Read the history of this day
below. Our world desperately needs quality maternal figures for the stability
of future generations. These statistics don’t lie.
“Of
all the rights of women: the greatest is to be a mother.” (Lin
Yutang)
ü Mothers make up 83% of the single parent
families in the US.
“The best place to cry is in a mother’s arms.” (Jodi
Picoult)
ü There are 82.5 million mothers in America with
more than two billion in the world.
“Our mothers always remain the strangest, craziest people we’ve ever
met.” (Marguerite Duras)
ü 40% of American women with children under the
age of eighteen in the US are the primary breadwinners for their families
(compared to eleven per cent in 1960).
“Acceptance, tolerance, bravery, compassion: these are the things my mom
taught me.”(Lady Gaga)
ü
On Mother’s Day 2013, it was estimated the cost of a mother's work at
home for an entire year would be $59,862.
(Where’s the money?)
“My mom is my hero. [She]
inspired me to dream when I was a kid. So anytime anyone inspires you to dream
(that’s gotta be your hero.)” (Tim McGraw)
ü Holiday chats with Mom on this
Sunday often cause phone traffic to increase by thirty-seven percent.
“But behind all your stories is always your mother’s story. Because hers
is where yours begins.” (Mitch Albom)
ü According to the Greeting Card
Association, 133 million cards are sold each year for Mother's Day. The average American purchases 2.8 Mother's
Day cards per year.
“A good mother loves fiercely but ultimately brings
up her children to thrive without her.” (Erin Kelly)
ü The American Restaurant
Association says 75 million Americans will dine out this year for Mother's Day,
which is the most popular day of the
year for dining out.
“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It
knows no law, no pity. It dates all things, and crushes down remorselessly all
that stands in its path.” (Agatha Christie)
Celebrations
of mothers (and motherhood) go back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. They held
festivals to honor the mother goddesses, Rhea and Cybele. Mother’s Day started as a way for
mourning women to honor fallen soldiers. “Mother’s Friendship
Day” was organized in 1868 to allow mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers
to get together.
“I remember my mother’s
prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” (Abraham
Lincoln)
In
1870, abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe, wrote the “Mother’s
Day Proclamation.” This was a call to action that asked mothers to unite in
promoting world peace. In 1873 Howe campaigned for a “Mother’s Peace Day” to be
celebrated every June 2.
‘“Like
mother, like daughter” that is what everyone will say of you.” Ezekiel 16:44 (TLB)
The
official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis. Following her
mother’s 1905 death, Anna conceived of day to honor the sacrifices mothers made
for their children. (Jarvis was unmarried and childless her whole life.)
“Being a mom has made me so
tired (and so happy).” (Tina Fey)
She argued that American holidays were biased towards male achievements. Anna
started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent
politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.
“Motherhood: all love begins
and ends there.” (Robert Browning)
In
1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed an official
proclamation making the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Her versions of
the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge, and visiting your mother
at home or attend church with her.
“A mother is a person who
seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces
she never did care for pie.” (Tenneva Jordan)
By
1920, Jarvis had become disgusted with the commercialization of this now
national holiday. She urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards
and candies. By the time of her death in 1948 Jarvis had disowned the holiday
altogether. She even actively lobbied the government to see the holiday removed
from the American calendar. Her feelings are below as stated in the book, Women Who
Made a Difference, by Malcolm
Forbes
"A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write
to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world… You take a box
[of candy] to Mother, and then eat most of
it yourself (a pretty sentiment)."
“Mothers were meant to love us unconditionally; to understand our moments of stupidity; to reprimand us for lame excuses while yet acknowledging our point of view; to weep over our pain and failures as well as cry at our joy and successes; and to cheer us on despite countless start-over’s. Heaven knows, no one else will.” (Richelle Goodrich)[i]
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!
“Mothers were meant to love us unconditionally; to understand our moments of stupidity; to reprimand us for lame excuses while yet acknowledging our point of view; to weep over our pain and failures as well as cry at our joy and successes; and to cheer us on despite countless start-over’s. Heaven knows, no one else will.” (Richelle Goodrich)[i]
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!
 |
| Anna Jarvis |
 |
| My mother, Janice Zarbaugh |
· 29 Beautiful Mother’s Day Quotes to Show Mom How Much You Love Her” by Lindsay Tigar
· “Mother’s Day History and Traditions: 5 Surprising Facts You May Not Know about the Holiday’s Dark Origins” by Philip Ross
· “Mother’s Day” by History.com Staff
· “10 Things You Didn’t Know about Mother’s Day” (6abc.com)
· “Mother's Day 2017: 5 Facts about America's Moms You Might Not Know” by Clark Mindock
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