International Mother’s Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh and elsewhere across the world on Sunday.
This special day is celebrated globally on the second Sunday of May with intent to appreciate the love and effort mothers put into their families.
Mother’s Day comes around only once a year but people must remember that love and gratefulness towards these awe-inspiring women should not be restricted to only one day.
The history of Mother’s Day dates back to 1908 as it was conceived by American Anna Jarvis as part of paying her glowing tribute to her own mother. The day was observed in the form of a church service.
Within years, the day was being celebrated in all of the United States of America after President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday as the official day in 1914.
Some would attribute the origins of Mother’s Day to Britain’s Mothering Sunday, which, although had similar motives regarding honouring mothers as the caregiver, it was closely associated with Easter unlike the modern schedule.
The early 20th century America was deeply entrenched with patriarchal values where the primary caregiver of children was always the mother.
Created during the period when women’s rights movements were gaining traction, Mother’s Day was commercialised soon and presenting family with gifts such as flowers, jewelleries and cards became the norm.
This tradition continues to this day with families putting aside their daily chores to come together and celebrate and remember mothers’ sacrifice.
In the Indian subcontinent, the people and poets have never shied away from glorifying mothers and, in certain instances, metaphorising the duty one has to their country as being similar to the responsibilities one has towards their mothers.
Mothers devote themselves to the upbringing of their wards and form their consciences. Mothers love, nurture, protect and inspire all those around them.