From biological mothers to foster, adoptive to stepmothers, Mother’s Day is solely a day to celebrate these women. Motherhood celebrations not only honor mothers, but also strengthens family bonds and values legacies and history.
Ms. Pasquale, a social studies teacher at B-CC and mom of two, stated that, “Being a mom means a lot of different things to me. I can’t speak for any other mom, but for me, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and being a mom is the ultimate teaching job because you get to shape a human from birth and that to me is very powerful.”
Certain historians believe that the celebration of Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient Greeks and Romans, where they would honor goddesses, such as Rhea and Cybele, through festivals in their honor. Whereas, the modernized Mother’s Day of today’s age is celebrated in different ways worldwide.
In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May each year, after President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914, designating Mother’s Day as a national holiday. This holiday is typically celebrated through gifting mothers with cards, special meals, and other thoughtful expressions of appreciation. Marshall Strickland, a senior at B-CC said, “For Mother’s Day, my family typically [comes together] for a thoughtful gift for my mother. Also, my mom chooses a restaurant for dinner, and we spend time recounting memories and stories.” While Ms. Pasquale also added her thoughts for celebrating Mother’s Day: “I want to spend the day with my family, but I also like to celebrate mothers in my life. Because my mom is still alive, I like to celebrate her and make sure that she feels loved.”
In the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. According to HISTORY, “One traditional Mothering Sunday food is the Simnel cake, a light fruitcake made with marzipan, which is also popular at Easter.”
In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day is celebrated during Antrosht, a three-day celebration held between October and November. During this celebration, families come together and participate in traditional dancing, singing, and feasts.
In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 12th of August, which was originally meant to honor the birthday of who Thai people consider to be the “Mother of the Nation,” Queen Sirikit. Traditional celebrations include giving jasmine flower garlands symbolizing purity and love, holding candle lighting ceremonies, and fireworks to honor the Queen. While traditions may vary across countries and cultures, the core message of honoring mothers remains universal.
Celebrating our moms helps to acknowledge their profound and often selfless impact on our lives and society. It’s a time to express gratitude for their love, support, guidance, sacrifices, and recognition of the significant role they play in shaping individuals and communities. Strickland added, “My mom is the reason I act the way I do, work as hard as I do, and the reason why I am able to do so many things in my free time, and that is worth celebrating.” Sophomore, Sabine Kong, said, “I think it’s important to celebrate our moms because they’re literally the ones who gave us life, and we shouldn’t just celebrate them once a year, it should be every day we show our love for them.”
Ms. Pasquale commented, “I think that Mother’s Day can be hard for some people. Depending on where you are in the journey of motherhood or family scenario. You may not be a mother. You may not want to be a mother. You may not have a mother. So for a lot of people, a day celebrating moms can be really hard. There are families that are non-traditional, and I think it’s important to acknowledge the people in your life that have taken care of you, that have raised you, that have given you comfort, and that have provided you with a life that you wouldn’t normally have.”
People believe that the daily efforts and sacrifices of mothers warrant continuous recognition and appreciation. While a dedicated Mother’s Day is a nice tradition, the sentiment of appreciation for mothers can and should extend beyond a single day.
