OR Mother’s Day It is one of the most moving and beautiful celebrations, dedicated to the person who brought us to the world.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days around the world, most commonly in March or May. In Greece and in many other countries, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May (which falls on May 11 this year), where millions of people will express their gratitude to their mother.
The first references to the Mother’s and Motherhood Day are in ancient Greece. Rea was worshiped as the “mother of the gods” and as the first mother as she seems to be the first to give birth to childbirth and raised her children with breast milk.
The modern version of the Mother’s Day began in the 20th century in the United States, initiated by activist Anna Jarvis, who, after the death of her own mother (10.5.1905), began a campaign to establish a day dedicated to her.
Jarvis never had her own children, but she was inspired this day in memory of her mother’s voluntary action during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865). At that time, women took care of soldiers on both fronts.
On May 10, 1908, Mother’s first day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, which was Jarvis’ birthplace, on the occasion of the three years after her mother’s death.
In 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday of May as “Mother’s Day”, and soon the celebration spread to other countries.
In Greece, the Mother’s Day was associated with the feast of Ypapanti (February 2). According to Orthodox tradition, Joseph and Maria led the little Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem Forty days after his birth, to fulfill the mosaic law, receiving blessing from the Elder Priest Symeon.
The parallel celebration of Ypapanti on Mother’s Day began in 1929. Since the 1960s, the celebration along with the Ypapandis manned and reinforced the celebration on the second Sunday of May.
Mother’s Day does not necessarily need expensive gifts. Thinking and intention are the ones that make the difference. A card with wishes and words from the heart or a bouquet of flowers and a warm hug are traditional ways to say everyone “I love you”.
It is worth noting that Mother’s Day is not just about biological mothers. It is a day dedicated to every woman who has played a maternal role: grandmothers, adoptive mothers, aunts, that is, the women who raised us, took care of us, showed us love and tenderness, overwhelming us to our side in every test. Whether in a simple way or in something special, the point is to show that we think and love them.
For this reason, May 11th is an opportunity to show our love for our mothers. After all, mother is only one.