Mother’s Day 2023: Date, History, Activities

Remember when the Peace Corps’ slogan was “The toughest job you’ll ever love”? This proverb is more applicable to motherhood, which is a profession that is constantly changing and frequently frustrating. Mothers do not receive paid time off, handsome compensation, or generous pensions. Instead, they are rewarded with sticky kisses, necklaces made of elbow macaroni, and the gratification of watching their children mature into happy and healthy adults. Follow our guide to giving back on Mother’s Day, the second Sunday of May, and give Mom an extra embrace or a special gift, just in case.

The background of Mother’s Day

In honour of the mother deities Rhea and Cybele, ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals. However, the ancient Christian celebration known as “Mothering Sunday” serves as the modern ancestor. This European custom was observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Many believed the devout would attend a special service at their “mother church” — the primary church in their neighbourhood — on this day. Over time, Mothering Sunday evolved into a secular holiday in which children gave their mothers flowers and other presents. In the 1930s and 1940s, this custom would be incorporated into Mother’s Day in the United States.

Julia Ward Howe, the American author and poet who wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” became the editor of the widely-read suffragist magazine Woman’s Journal in 1872. During this period, she penned “Appeal to womanhood throughout the world,” also known as the Mother’s Day Proclamation. After the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War, the document requested that women fight for world peace. On June 2, Howe unsuccessfully attempted to initiate a “Mother’s Day” celebration. Two decades later, Howe proposed a July 4 Mother’s Day celebration. This too was unsuccessful, but it paved the way for a future endeavour.

After her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died in 1905, Anna Jarvis effectively initiated Mother’s Day. According to Jarvis, Mother’s Day should include a “singular possessive” (hence the apostrophe) so that each family can honour its own mother, as opposed to all mothers. In May 1908, Jarvis, who was neither married nor a parent, organised the first official Mother’s Day celebration. John Wanamaker, the proprietor of a department store in Philadelphia, contributed financially to the cause. Thousands of people attended a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s stores in the same month.

Soon after, Jarvis campaigned to make Mother’s Day a national holiday, imploring notable Americans to join the cause. By 1912, many states, cities, and churches celebrated Mother’s Day annually. Additionally, Jarvis established the Mother’s Day International Association. In 1914, President Wilson would shortly designate the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day. In the early 1920s, Hallmark began selling Mother’s Day greeting cards.

The love affair between Jarvis and the holiday she worked so hard to establish did not last, and she eventually resented its commercial appeal. As florists and greeting card companies began to profit, she became disillusioned with the concept of a national day, encouraging people to stop purchasing flowers, greeting cards, and candies. Jarvis used the majority of her personal wealth to hire solicitors to file litigation against organisations that used the term “Mother’s Day.” She even attempted to convince the government to eliminate it from the calendar.

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MOTHER’S DAY ACTIVITIES

Togetherness

Have you ever noticed that your mother insists she does not want expensive gifts? Believe her. She simply wishes to spend time with you (yes, it’s a cliche, but it’s true). Therefore, go hiking or prepare a picnic. Assist her in the garden, or explore the city. Even if it’s as creative as a large bowl of popcorn and a ‘Game of Thrones’ marathon, Mom will appreciate the QT more than any material gift.

Respect her

Put her out. Find an exceptional restaurant and buy Mom a few mimosas as a gift. Intend to take her out later? Options for lunch and dinner are limitless. Plan in advance. Make a reservation in advance. Remember that you are now an adult.

Listen up

Listening is a loving deed. Therefore, take a break from discussing your own problems and listen to her discuss her life, her aspirations, or her favourite memories. If you have siblings, gather your family and recount tales!

MOTHER’S DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2021	May 9	Sunday
2022	May 8	Sunday
2023	May 14	Sunday
2024	May 12	Sunday
2025	May 11	Sunday