Mother's Day
Hallmark Channel Mother's Day Weekend Celebration Marathon silviarita/ Pixabay

When is Mother’s Day celebrated in most parts of the world and how do families celebrate this special day? Also known as Mothering Sunday, it typically falls in springtime in the US however this date changes each year and is generally celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom however takes place depending on the Easter date of each year. It was originally a religious celebration hence why it takes place on the fourth Sunday of the Lenten season. The celebration is observed with church services held in honor of Mary and Lent.

In 2022, the UK celebrated all mothers on March 27 with services honoring the mother of Jesus and is usually celebrated with a simple cake to signify a break in the Lenten season. The UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man as well as Nigeria, celebrate Mother’s Day on the same date.

The United States, Germany, Greece, Australia, and even China all celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. This year, Mother’s Day for these countries falls on May 8.

But how far does this tradition date back? The Ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals in honor of their mother goddesses Cybel and Rhea as far back as 250 BC. The UK celebrated this occasion since the 16th Century when Christians observing Lent would visit their “mother” church on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

It was called the Mothering Sunday as daughters who worked mainly as servants, would be given time off to return to their mothers and their mother church. The eldest son or daughter brought a simple “mothering cake” that would be cut and shared amongst family members. This was a time for family reunions where the children prepared a special dinner in honor of their mother and took charge of all household duties.

On this day, fasting rules were relaxed and by tradition, a Simnel cake that resembles a fruit cake with layers of almond paste was served. It was made with 11 balls of marzipan icing symbolically representing the 11 disciples.

In the United States, this was first celebrated when Anna Jarvis campaigned for Mother’s Day to become an officially recognized holiday in honor of her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis in 1907. Known for her peace advocacy, Ann Reeves Jarvis was granted this honor through her daughter in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson who declared Mother’s Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May in honor of all mothers. However, this is not a federal or public holiday.

This year marks the first celebration of this holiday with relaxed Covid- 19 restrictions, allowing families to gather and honor their matriarchs and mothers to make up for two years of lost time.

Have you made any plans ahead of May 8? Here are some fun ideas to celebrate Mother’s Day in 2022 still bearing in mind health and safety measures from Covid.

Check out these 8 fun and creative ways to honor your mom and show her a little extra love, and appreciation.

Do her yard and garden

If you live near your Mom, purchase a gift certificate to landscape her garden or your family’s yard with professional landscaping services. If this isn’t in the budget, rally up your siblings or some close friends to help you lay down mulch or a lawn along with some pretty flower pots and spring-planted bulbs that are sure to blossom in the summer.

Bling up your mom’s door and porch with flowers

Sneak around the night before Mother’s Day and have fun decorating your mom’s front door with a nice long lasting wreath, toss on some streamers, and special signs, and throw in some nice potted flowers and cute decorative gnomes and wicker weaved animals! Get the kids and grandkids involved for an even better surprise. If you’re not local to your mom’s area, have a local plant and flower company decorate her porch with favorite blooms and herbs. Instruct them to have a bouquet of flowers for her with monthly birth flowers representing each of her children.

Dish it up for mom

Breakfast in bed is always appreciated! Prepare her favorite breakfast recipes along with a full pot of good coffee or tea. Gather around and set up a mini breakfast buffet in her bedroom. Give her cake for breakfast because she’s old enough to have it.

Set up a brunch date with family with a pretty table filled with heirloom breakfast recipes and recipes your mother made for you growing up. A virtual brunch date is already possible thanks to technology. Have a local restaurant deliver her a breakfast basket with champagne Mimosas. You can also have your family contribute to a basket that you can drop off at her door. Gather up in front of your webcam or phone and raise a glass to your mom!

Casserole and Cake: if organizing is not your best trait, then cook up a tasty casserole and bake your mom’s favorite cake. Drive over and share an intimate brunch for two.

Put on a show

Video chatting can be easy as pie even for moms. Ring her up and tell her to go on a Zoomcall with you. Have a light talk and toss in some good “yo momma” jokes and make her laugh. Break out the violin or that harmonica or whatever musical instrument she made you learn as a kid and play a tune for her. Create a TikTok video of some great dance moves of her generation.

Watch a movie even if she’s miles away

Schedule a movie night in one place with the family gathered around. Set up a campfire and a projector screen out in the garden if it’s a nice evening. Top it off with theater-style popcorn and milkshakes and play one of her classic favorites. If you’re in separate locations, stream the same movie with her on your computers at the same time. Or, binge on a series marathon of her favorite TV shows indulging in a glass of wine and a charcuterie board.

Make mom a video or a piece of art in her honor

Record a video from all your siblings. Have everyone say a sweet message telling why they appreciate her. Make a special work of art for Mom. You can paint some of her old flower pots in the garden, or make a painting with each of her children contributing to the piece. Have a photo montage done via video or wall art.

Pack a picnic

Fresh air and some sun are always good for you. Spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. Visit a park and enjoy the sights. Pack a simple picnic with mom’s favorite stuff. Bring a cooler for some wine or champagne and a nice cheese board to while away the day in the countryside or the beach.

Make a homemade gift together

You don’t need to splurge on a store-bought gift especially if your mom loves crafty things. Here are some cool DIY projects you can do together on Mother’s Day.

Make your own:
1. Herbed vinegar

2. Fruit facial or scrub

3. Hand and body organic soap

4. Lavander sachet

5. Rose potpourri

6. Strawberry jam

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Representation Image Elderly Mother and Daughter by the lake silviarita/Pixabay

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