Mother's Day: Fact or Fiction?

Mother’s Day. These two words together symbolize a day of sweetness and celebration. But where did the notion of honoring our mothers one day a year begin? Some believe it to be a ploy by greeting card manufacturers, florists or purveyors of candy. Hardly. Mother’s Day has deep roots in history.

Honoring mothers has been around for centuries. It is even said to date back to the worship of Egyptian fertility Goddess, Isis. Mothers were also honored in times of old with special Lenten prayers out of respect for the “mother church.” No Hallmark or American Greetings in those days.

But the Mother’s Day we know and celebrate in May today was actually the idea of early abolitionist, poet and author Julia Ward Howe, better known for her "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Surprised?

Yes, in 1870, 12 years after Howe wrote this time-honored hymn, she introduced a Mother's Day Proclamation based on her experiences as a wife and mother throughout a suppresive marriage and the carnage witnessed as native sons were killed in the Civil War. 

Her proclamation called for an international day to celebrate peace and motherhood. With a respected reputation and position as a writer, came a huge voice in the women’s movement. Howe traveled the country, building support for her cause.

As we know, Mother’s Day today has spread its initial roots to become a commercial “holiday” of sorts. Cards, candy, and flowers, though still the gifts that come to mind to celebrate mom, are just a tiny bite of the Mother’s Day pie.

Restaurants offer brunches, hotels offer get-aways, stores offer sales. Mother’s Day, celebrated in many cultures, has morphed into a billion dollar business.  Americans alone will spend about $140.73 per person for gifts for Mom on Mother’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation.

Severna Park mom, Liz Williams, has special memories of a Mother’s Day years ago where she gladly packed her two Boy Scout off to the Elk's Camp Barrett for the weekend, allowing her precious time alone with daughter Alison.

Mother’s Day was a nice girl’s weekend that year (of course the accumulated laundry after Camp Barrett took some of the joy out of it).

And Severna Park High School teacher, Judy Bonano, remembers that once, when her kids were little, they painted and made her a corsage from an egg carton. She proudly wore it to church that Sunday.

Last year, her much older “kids” made her scones which they enjoyed in a beautiful breakfast outdoors. In the past they have treated Mom to breakfast in bed.  As Judy said, “I enjoy my company with them more than gifts."

So, as you enjoy a Severna Park Mother’s Day with your children or with memories of your mother this year, thank Julia Ward Howe. If she were alive today, she would likely enjoy knowing her plan to honor mothers on their own special day, lives on.

Enjoy your day, Moms.