Posted on Apr 30, 2016 in
FEATURES
Rocio Parra, Jeannine Khorrami, Terri Wang, Nazila Vakili, Zeenat Mitha, Leandra Dewes, Stella Mohammedin and Eliza Chan, all mothers living in Fort Bend with roots around the world, celebrated an evening together.
COMMUNITY CULTURE | By Zeenat Kassam Mitha –
The modern-day origins of Mother’s Day in the United States began approximately 150 years ago, when a homemaker, Anna Jarvis, planned a day to create awareness of poor health conditions in society. She knew the best advocates would be mothers and called it “Mother’s Work Day.”
Almost 15 years later, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the lyrics to The Battle Hymn of the Republic, planned a day to rally for peace and encouraged mothers to partake in 1870. She believed that mothers bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.
In 1905, when Jarvis died, her daughter, Anna Marie Jarvis, created a movement to memorialize her mother’s lifelong work. Legend states that Anna Marie remembered a Sunday school lesson of her mother’s in which she said, “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers.”
Anna Marie spoke to businessmen and politicians, including Presidents Taft and Roosevelt, to initiate a special day to honor mothers. In 1914, Anna Marie’s hard work was acknowledged when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday. The rest is history.
Mother’s Day traditions in a few other countries are as follows:
Mother’s Day in Mexico is enjoyed on May 10th in Mexico in a vibrant way. Daughters and sons respect and admire their mothers and find many ways to thank them for the dedication of raising them. Some follow the tradition where children make themselves accessible in the house on the eve of Mother’s Day on May 9th to begin celebrations. The day is celebrated by attending church with a special mass. “For many mothers, the best moment is when the orchestra plays Las Mañanitas, and ‘tamales and atole,’ a morning spread, is given to mothers who are local in the area,” said Eliza Chan, a Fort Bend resident of Mexican-American descent.
Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands is also celebrated widely. It takes place on the fourth Sunday in the month of Lent. Mother’s Day adjusts every year, since the Lent days are not permanent. “In the 1600s, the UK was the first country to grant a day for mothers, and Mother’s Day was referred to as Mothering Sunday, before the custom began in United States,” said Sally Roden, a community volunteer who lives in Sugar Land, is from the Netherlands and lived in the UK.
Mother’s Day in Spain is called Día de la Madre and is celebrated the first Sunday in May. “This is a heartfelt day committed to mothers for their sacrifices and hard work to raise their children,” said Lauren Anzaldua, a Sugar Land resident who has spent summers in Spain. “Handcrafted presents and homemade meals or a special day out at a restaurant with the family is treasured by mothers on this day.”
Mother’s Day in France is reserved for the last Sunday in the month of May. A homemade family dinner is traditional, and for many mothers, a cake is shared that appears like a bouquet of flowers. The roots of Mother’s Day in France is believed to have come from the Napoleonic era. The French emperor declared a day to pay tribute to mothers of large families back in 1806.
Mother’s Day in India is a tradition that is slowly catching up to many westernized countries. The idea of celebrating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May has been around for less than a decade, but it has been very successful. In India, it is a time to reflect on the immense value of mothers. “Families take the time to think about all of the pains their mother took while they were sick, the hardships mothers went through and all of the sacrifices mothers made so their children can lead a better life,” said Shefali Javeri, an Indian-American living in Sugar Land.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!
