Sunday May 13th is the Day We Celebrate Our Mothers
By Susan Braverman
Source: familiesforchildren.org
I’ve never cared much for “Hallmark Holidays”, but when it comes to the lifetime I’ve spent celebrating my mom on Mother’s Day, I definitely make an exception! Being a former elementary school teacher, I know first-hand that starting from when our children are in school, teachers often help them prepare gifts and cards in advance of Mother’s Day, so moms everywhere can receive something special on the second Sunday of May. I also know that for some these hand-crafted gifts are so precious that they’re often kept as mementos of years gone by.
Source: julia-ward-howe-peacealliance.org
Mother’s Day: How Did It Start, Anyway?
Some of the earliest-known celebrations of mothers date way back to ancient Greek civilization, honouring Rhea, the mother of the Gods. Later on, in 1870, Julia Ward Howe of Massachusetts wrote “The Mother’s Day Proclamation” calling for woman to unite for peace.[1] Then in 1908, Anna Jarvis of West Virginia held a private memorial celebration in remembrance of her mother. The following year, she planned a church service, celebrating mothers, which was attended by more than 400 children and their mothers. In 1914, Mother’s Day became an official holiday in the US,[2] and today, it is celebrated all over the world.
Source: portlandflag.org
Traditions Around the World
Mother’s Day is about honouring all mothers, and especially showing appreciation to our own moms. Here’s a quick view of some interesting traditions from different parts of the world:
In Germany, Mother’s Day was declared an official holiday in 1933. Early traditions included gifting mothers with medals of gold, silver and bronze, for bearing children.[3] Today, people gather to treat their mothers to a special meal, which typically ends with a special dessert called Rote Grüetze.
Rote Grüetze – Source: www.chefkoch.de
In Ethiopia, they take Mother’s Day celebrations very seriously, so much so that they hold feasts called “Antrosht”, which last for three whole days. Children gather the ingredients for preparing traditional hash. Girls are responsible for the vegetables, spices and dairy, such as cheese and butter, while boys bring the lamb or bull. [4] Unlike in the western world, where moms usually take a break from cooking, mothers in Ethiopia prepare the meals for the feasts.
In Japanese, “Haha-no-hi” means Happy Mother’s Day, and sons and daughters greet their mothers with this expression. Most commonly, mothers are given carnations, symbolizing the sweetness and purity of a mother’s love.[5]
And, did you know? “Mama” is one of the most universal words, appearing in the 10 most commonly spoken languages of the world, reflected as: māma, mama, mamá, ma, mama, mamã, maa, mama, haha and mamī. Another cool fact: 3.4 billion people of the world speak Mandarin (Mãma), Hindi (māṃ), English (mama), or Arabic (māma).[6]
Doreen and Susan Braverman – 1971
Celebrating All Mothers of The Flag Shop
My mom, Doreen Braverman, founded The Flag Shop in 1975, when I was a seven year-old girl. When I think about those early days, I can truthfully say that I spent more time in the shop than I did at home! Flash forward 35 years to 2010, when I purchased the company and became President. I still remember bringing my baby to the office, just days after she was born, so I can hardly believe that today, my daughter Alex is 25 years old! This tradition of mothers and daughters at The Flag Shop is all thanks to my amazing mom, who has given of herself so much. I just can’t do enough to express my gratitude and love! Without question, if it were not for my mom, I wouldn’t be writing this blog, and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today!
Source: zhonggdjw.com
Flowers, Phone Calls and Text Messages
According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, in 2011 there were 9.8 million mothers in Canada, which includes biological, adoptive, and stepmoms.[7] That adds up to millions of flowers[8] and cards given and received. For a Mother’s Day snapshot, representing only one of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, SaskTel predicts some astonishing figures. In the province of Saskatchewan (home of The Flag Shop Saskatoon), call volumes are expected to reach 1,060,000[9] and text messages are predicted to reach 10.2 million,[10] for well-wishers, this coming Sunday.
As our mothers taught us long ago, tuck in your shirt, get a hair cut, use your manners, and don’t forget to call your mom!
Happy Mother’s Day!
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References:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day_Proclamation
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day
[3] [4][5] http://www.mothersdaycelebration.com
[6] https://www.mother.ly/parenting/mama-is-most-universal-word
[7][8] https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/dai/smr08/2017/smr08_216_2017#a1
[9][10] https://globalnews.ca/news/4192850/sasktel-text-messages-mothers-day/