Most of us buy cards, send flowers or go out for brunch to commemorate Mother’s Day, but we rarely realize how far back these celebrations date. Like many other holidays that have been commercialized in modern times, Mother’s Day has centuries-old antecedents. Cultures around the world celebrated (and still do) the Mother Goddess as a representative of nurturing and the giver of all life.
The ancient Egyptians celebrated the Mother Goddess Isis, while the Greeks celebrated the Goddess Rhea, who was the Mother of most of the major deities including Zeus. In ancient Rome, Cybele was the major Mother figure and as early as 2250 B.C., the Romans celebrated a festival of Hilaria, which occurred in the spring and was dedicated to the Mother Goddess.
In Taoism May 25th is celebrated as the Mother of the World Day. Since the belief is that the goddess is the mother of all; she is the origin of all things. Incense is burned and the focus is on meditating on Divine Harmony.
During the Middle Ages, people in remote villages attended the main church in their parish - the “mother” church - for a special service. In England, a day known as “Mothering Sunday” fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent and was a day when working people had a vacation and went home to visit their mothers.
Did you know that the first North American Mother’s Day was actually a call for peace? Jullia Ward Howe wrote a proclamation in 1870 that called for mothers to stop their sons from killing the sons of other mothers. She asked for an international Mother’s Day of Peace. I personally think this is a fabulous idea.
Mother’s Day Around the World
Many cultures use this day to enjoy traditional dishes that their mother’s taught them to cook. In Mexico a mother is serenaded by her family or a hired band and in Japan, children would enter drawings of their mothers in a contest that celebrated mothers and peace. Sweets and flowers—especially violets—are given to Mom on Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom.
In addition to flowers, cards, jewelry and chocolates, it is customary for Australians to exchange perfume and tea on Mother’s Day. In Canada there seems to be an added emphasis on doing chores for the Mother and cooking her supper. Sweden’s Mother’s Day, which takes place on the last Sunday in May, has a strong charitable focus: the Swedish Red Cross sells small plastic flowers leading up to the holiday, and the proceeds raised are given to poor mothers and their children. The Native American culture celebrates Mother Earth as our mother and councils us to take care of her.
With the changing configuration of families today, I invite you to honor the stepparents, foster parents, godparents and mentors- both alive and deceased- who have played an important role in our “mothering” and of the “mothering” of our children.
Work with Barbara:
In the spirit of May (fertility, self-care, making important decisions) I am offering a special savings of 20% off on all Tarot Readings =>> Use code MOTHER at checkout. (Readings must be purchased in May and claimed within 60 days of purchase)
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Until next time,
Barbara