Michael Brooks
Mother's Day is a holiday celebrated in several countries, including the US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, and Belgium. While the holiday is widely observed, it is not an official public holiday in all countries. The celebration of Mother's Day is believed to have originated in the ancient world, with roots in the United Kingdom, Greece, and the United States. In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, the mother of God, and holds special significance for Mother's Day. The day is marked by prayers, gifts, and flowers, and is a time to honour mothers and motherhood.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Second Sunday of May |
| History | Catholics have been celebrating a sort of mother's day since the first few centuries of the Church. |
| The fourth Sunday of Lent, or Laetare Sunday, was traditionally a time to return to your mother church (home parish) and leave an offering. | |
| In modern times, Mother's Day has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States since 1914. | |
| In the United Kingdom, Mother's Day is often known as "Mothering Sunday", which has become a secular celebration of mothers and motherhood. | |
| In Brazil, Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1918 and was later made an official holiday by the Catholic Church in 1947. | |
| In Mexico, Mother's Day was imported from the US in 1922. | |
| Traditions | Gifts, flowers, cards, chocolates, and other tokens of appreciation are given to mothers. |
| In the Catholic Church, Mother's Day is a day to do something charitable for mothers in the community and to recognize and thank God for the gift of life. | |
| In some Catholic homes, families have a special shrine on their home altar devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. |
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What You'll Learn
Mother's Day's Catholic roots
Mother's Day is celebrated in several countries, including the US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, and Belgium. The celebration has become commercialized to a great extent, with gifts like flowers, cards, chocolates, and other presents. However, the day is not meant for commercialism but to thank mothers for their love, support, and for being a mother.
The roots of Mother's Day can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who dedicated an annual spring festival to maternal goddesses. In the United Kingdom, a Mothering Sunday was celebrated before it reached the United States. Mothering Sunday, also known as Laetare Sunday, is the fourth Sunday of Lent, and it traditionally involved returning to one's mother church (home parish) and leaving an offering. The day also has roots in the story of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, prompting the association with the ''Gifts of Mother Earth'.
In the Catholic tradition, Mother's Day is associated with devotion to Mary, the mother of God, and our spiritual mother. The month of May is dedicated to Mary, and Catholics have been celebrating a form of Mother's Day since the early centuries of the Church. In Catholic homes, families have a shrine on their home altar devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and special prayers are offered in her honour.
In some countries, Mother's Day is celebrated on a date significant to the majority religion, such as Virgin Mary Day in Catholic countries. For example, in Brazil, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, and it was included in the official calendar of the Catholic Church in 1947.
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The Virgin Mary's significance
Mother's Day has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States on the second Sunday of May since 1914. However, Catholics have been celebrating a sort of Mother's Day since the first few centuries of the Church. The fourth Sunday of Lent, or Laetare Sunday, was traditionally a time to return to one's mother church (home parish) and leave an offering.
The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, is revered by the Church. In many ways, the motherhood of Mary and the motherhood of the Church are inseparable. God Himself chose Mary to be the mother of His Son and prepared her with all the graces necessary for that mission. Mary is both Virgin and Mother, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 that a virgin should be with child. She is the Mother of God (Theotokos) because she is the mother of Jesus, who is God. Mary's faith and obedience paved the way for the Incarnation, and her example teaches us faith, obedience, humility, and how to love.
In the month of May, Catholics honour Mary and mothers. Devotion to Mary, the mother of God and our spiritual mother, gives this holiday depth for Catholics that goes beyond giving flowers or candy on Mother's Day. In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary.
Mary is a model of faith and charity, and her holiness is an example for all. She is exalted, yet still one of us. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reflected in 2005, "Outstanding among the saints is Mary, Mother of the Lord and mirror of all holiness. Mary’s greatness consists in the fact that she wants to magnify God, not herself."
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Mother's Day in Catholic countries
Mother's Day is celebrated in several countries, including the US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, and Belgium. The celebration has become commercialized to a great extent, with florists, card manufacturers, and gift sellers advertising their products. However, the day is meant to thank mothers for their love and support, rather than being driven by commercialism.
In the Catholic faith, Mother's Day has been celebrated since the first few centuries of the Church. The fourth Sunday of Lent, or Laetare Sunday, was traditionally a day to return to one's mother church (home parish) and leave an offering. This day is also known as Mothering Sunday, which evolved into honoring mothers and devotion to Mary, the mother of God. In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus.
In Catholic countries, Mother's Day celebrations vary. For example, in Brazil, Mother's Day is widely observed on the second Sunday of May, though it is not an official holiday. In Mexico, Mother's Day was imported from the US in 1922, and while the conservative government initially promoted a conservative view of motherhood, later leftist governments used the holiday to stress the importance of families and introduce new morals for women.
In the United Kingdom, Mothering Sunday is often referred to as "Mother's Day" due to American influence. However, it is a secular celebration of mothers and motherhood, falling during Lent. In some Catholic homes, families have a shrine devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in Eastern Catholic Churches, a special prayer service is held in her honor.
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How Catholics celebrate Mother's Day
Mother's Day has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States on the second Sunday of May since 1914. However, Catholics have been celebrating a sort of Mother's Day since the first few centuries of the Church. The fourth Sunday of Lent, or Laetare Sunday, is traditionally when Christians return to their mother church (home parish) and leave an offering.
In modern Britain, Mother's Day is another term for Mothering Sunday, which has become a secular celebration of mothers and motherhood. Mothering Sunday always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent and coincides with Laetare Sunday. The day is marked by priests wearing pink vestments. In England and some parts of Europe, Mothering Sunday is celebrated as the midpoint of Lent.
Girls who worked as maids were always given a holiday to return to their homes on Mothering Sunday. They would traditionally bring a Mothering or Simnel Cake with them, which is an easy version of the Christmas plum cake.
In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, the mother of God and the Blessed Mother. Catholics pay special honour to Mary during this month, which gives the holiday a deeper meaning that goes beyond giving flowers or candy on Mother's Day. There are many ways to celebrate the month of May through May crownings, planting a Mary Garden, and celebrating the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church on May 21.
There are also prayers for mothers on Creighton University's Online Ministries, as well as blessings for mothers struggling through various challenges.
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Mother's Day's commercialisation
Is Mother's Day a Catholic holiday? A quick Google search yields a variety of results, with some sources indicating that it is, in fact, a Catholic holiday, while others suggest that it is a commercial celebration that has been adopted by people of various faiths and cultures around the world. Mother's Day, as it is widely celebrated today, is a product of both its religious origins and its subsequent commercialisation.
The celebration of motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of maternal goddesses. In the 1600s, the Christian church in England began to celebrate a day known as "Mothering Sunday," which fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This was a day for people to return to their "mother church" or main church in their area for a special service. Over time, the Mothering Sunday tradition evolved to include honoring human mothers and maternal bonds, and it became an occasion for children to present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation.
In the United States, the modern version of Mother's Day was established by Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century. Jarvis, who was inspired by her own mother's efforts to improve health and hygiene standards, campaigned for a day to honor all mothers and their contributions to society. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially recognized the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, and it has since become a national holiday in the US and many other countries.
While the intention behind Mother's Day may have been sincere, it didn't take long for commercial interests to latch on to the idea. Florists, card companies, and gift retailers quickly realized the potential for profit, and Mother's Day soon became a major commercial event. Today, the holiday is heavily marketed, with consumers being encouraged to purchase flowers, cards, chocolates, jewelry, and other gifts as a way to show their love and appreciation for their mothers.
The commercialization of Mother's Day has attracted criticism from various quarters. Some argue that the true meaning of the day, which is to honor and celebrate motherhood, has been overshadowed by the pressure to buy gifts and the emphasis on material displays of affection. There is also a concern that the commercial focus takes away from the original intent of Mothering Sunday, which was a day of reflection and appreciation for one's mother church and community.
Despite these criticisms, Mother's Day continues to be a widely celebrated holiday, and for many, the commercial aspects are simply a part of the tradition. It is a day when families come together to honor their mothers and express their gratitude, whether through gifts, a special meal, or simply spending time together. Ultimately, the meaning of Mother's Day is what each individual or family makes of it, and it can be both a commercial and a heartfelt celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
Mother's Day is celebrated by millions of people across the world, including Catholics. However, it is not exclusively a Catholic holiday.
In the Catholic Church, Mother's Day is dedicated to Mary, the mother of God and spiritual mother. It is a day to thank mothers for their love and support, and for giving life. Some Catholics celebrate by giving spiritual bouquets to the mothers in their lives, while others ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for them.
Yes, Mother's Day has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States on the second Sunday of May since 1914. However, Catholics have been celebrating a form of Mother's Day since the Church's first few centuries.
