Mother's Day

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father's Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents Day.

Origins[edit | edit source]

The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. St Andrew's Methodist Church now holds the International Mother's Day Shrine. Her campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues.

Celebration[edit | edit source]

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father's Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents Day.

Traditions[edit | edit source]

Traditions of Mother's Day vary across the globe. In the United States, it is common to celebrate with breakfast in bed, family gatherings, and gifting flowers, cards, and other tokens of appreciation. In the United Kingdom, Mothering Sunday is celebrated with church services and gifting flowers and other tokens of appreciation.

Criticism and Controversy[edit | edit source]

Despite its widespread popularity, Mother's Day has also been met with criticism and controversy. Some argue that it has become overly commercialized, while others believe it perpetuates traditional gender roles.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Mother's Day Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD