Mother's Day

 



Mother’s Day

On Sunday it is Mother’s Day.  The one day of the year dedicated to showing appreciation of our mothers.  This one day generates spending in the billions of dollars per year – is your inbox cluttered with Mother’s Day emails for everything from hotel breaks to high teas to lunches, brunches or the latest must have gadget or winter warmer?  Is this really the best way to show the Mothers in our lives how much we value their presence, unconditional love and support.

 

Mother’s Day has been celebrated throughout time and in various forms.  The Ancient Greeks held a spring festival to honour the goddess Rhea, mother of Zeus.  In Roman times, it was Cybele the mother of goddesses that was honoured.  The UK celebrates Mothering Sunday, held during Lent to honour the Virgin Mary (also known as Mother Mary) and was a time for people to return to their ‘Mother Church’ or home parish.  The Mother’s Day we celebrate here in New Zealand is the American version, which traces its origin to Anna Jarvis who led the movement to commemorate mothers.  As it increased in popularity, it also became more commercialised, something that outraged Anna Jarvis.  What would she think of a day where billions of dollars are spent?

 

So, how do mothers want to mark Mother’s Day?  Most mothers will receive handmade artwork from their children, happily made at school or daycare. Remember 2020 when we were all still in various stages of lockdowns and it was left to Dad’s to organise?  Then there are the traditional favourites – a sleep in, breakfast in bed and chocolate.  The perennial miracles, of course, are some peace and quiet.


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