Why is May 8th Mother's Day?

May 8th is Mother's Day, an occasion for millions of people around the world to remember the immense love, care, support, and encouragement of their mothers.

Mother's Day is celebrated on many different dates around the world, but the two most common dates are the second Sunday of May, traditionally Mother's Day in the US, followed by the fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally Mothering Sunday in the UK.

The history of Mother's Day

According to the news source, Mother's Day has its earliest origins in the Greek and Roman periods. The festival honoring mothers was held annually in the spring, and the Greeks at that time often offered sacrifices to goddesses, especially Rhea – the mother of many gods in Greek mythology.

However, the pioneers who established and initiated "Mother's Day" were two American women: Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis and her daughter, Anna Marie Jarvis.

Today, Mother's Day is celebrated in over 65 countries around the world (although on different dates). It is also an occasion for millions of people worldwide to remember the immense love, care, support, and encouragement of their mothers.

One hundred years ago, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, a woman from West Virginia, founded a group called "Mother's Day" with the sole purpose of reconnecting families torn apart by the Civil War. After establishing the group, she wanted to organize an annual celebration to commemorate mothers, but unfortunately, she passed away before she could fulfill this wish.

As a dutiful daughter, Anna Jarvis – the daughter of Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis – never forgot her mother's wishes. Furthermore, dissatisfied with the indifferent attitude of the American people towards her mother, when her mother passed away in 1905, she dedicated herself to fulfilling her mother's wish to establish Mother's Day.

After much effort, she organized the first official Mother's Day celebration at Andrews Methodist Church in 1908. Along with Anna Jarvis's own celebration, families gathered at various locations to commemorate the event in Jarvis's hometown of Grafton, West Virginia, and other cities.

In 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in most states of the United States. And on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution designating the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day.

The meaning of Mother's Day

For Anna Jarvis, "Mother's Day" is a day when everyone should go home to their mother and thank her for all she has done for them. And that it's not a day to celebrate all mothers, but a day to thank the best woman you have, your mother. That's why Jarvis emphasizes the singular noun "Mother's Day" and not "Mothers' Day".

Nowadays, "Mother's Day" is spreading throughout the world. On this day, children express their gratitude to their mothers by showing their affection through greetings and gifts, whether material or spiritual, expressing their wish for their mothers to be happy and joyful.

Mother's Day in Vietnam

In Vietnam, the influx of Western culture has also brought Mother's Day into the country. Alongside March 8th, October 20th, and the Vu Lan Festival (a festival honoring parents), Mother's Day is also widely celebrated. On this day, children, out of gratitude to their mothers, will give them meaningful gifts, both material and spiritual.

Although Mother's Day in Vietnam doesn't have as long a history as in the US or UK, many people still send meaningful gifts to their mothers. Young people are also eagerly preparing handmade flower arrangements and greeting cards to celebrate this special day dedicated to mothers.

According to ĐSPL.vn