G. Michael Reid looks at Mother’s Day
She thinks about you all the time, but do you remember her the way you should? Tonight G. Michael Reid looks at why we celebrate Mother’s Day and says thanks to the moms of Belize.
“There are two days out of the year, when almost every man will put aside machismo and indulge in the noble art of chivalry. On these two days, the most macho of men might be seen ambling down the street; a tattoo on one arm and a bunch of flowers in the other. The first of these two days of endearment falls on the fourteenth of February and the second, on the second Sunday in May. This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day and as we have done traditionally and collectively since way back in the days of old, mankind takes a bow to the mothers.
The tradition of setting a day aside to honor mothers, began early in the days of civilization. The Ancient Greeks and Romans had a day in honor of the mothers of their gods and after Paganism gave way to Monotheism, the celebration became in honor of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. The first semblance to our now Mother’s Day celebration, can be traced back to Renaissance England. Young men and women who were off serving as apprentices or servants would return home for a day, bringing their mothers token gifts of appreciation. The boys would bring trinkets and the girls would bake what was called a mothering cake. The day was generally referred to as Mothering Sunday.
Now the actual Mothers’ Day that we will be celebrating this Sunday, got its start in the United States back on June 10th, 1908. Anna Jarvis, who herself was never married or with children, dedicated two church services to her own mother, with whom she had been very close. The memorial services for her mother who had died the year before, were held in the states of Virginia and Philadelphia simultaneously. In 1909, Jarvis and a few friends began an intense letter writing campaign to gain support for the declaration of Mother’s Day as a holiday. Miss Jarvis and her friends ascertained that children often neglected to appreciate their mothers when they were alive and hoped that Mother’s Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds.
By 1911, not only was every state in the union observing Mother’s Day, but the idea had spread to Canada, China and as far away as Africa. In December of 1912, the Mother’s Day International Association was incorporated and since that time, the observation of Mother’s Day has become Universal. The carnation is considered the official flower of Mother’s Day with a red one symbolizing a living mother and a white carnation as an indication that one’s mother had gone on to higher service.
The irony in this story of course, is that the very Anna Jarvis who was so instrumental in establishing Mother’s Day, spent her finals days and a small fortune, lobbying to have the holiday revoked. She believed that the holiday had taken on too much of a commercial tone which would inevitably overshadow the true meaning of the day. The tradition by that time, however, had become too deeply entrenched and was much too revered to be severed. While Miss Jarvis did indeed have some merit to her argument, there were then and still are, too many children both grown and adolescent, who if only just for this one day, are sincere in their hearts about their love and appreciation for mom.
Let us hope that this holiday never dies and that all children will continue, not only on one Sunday in May, but on every other day, to honor both their mothers and their fathers. From myself and the entire staff at Five, Happy Mother’s Day to every mother, grandmother and godmother. May your children grow up to be just like you.
With the Last Word, G. Michael Reid.”
The opinions expressed on the Last Word are those of G. Michael Reid and not necessarily those of Channel Five. Comments are welcome.
