Mother’s Day is observed on the second Sunday in May. Typically families honor their mothers with sentimental cards, flowers, candy, or gifts to show their appreciation and love. The day can seem less than celebratory for those whose mothers are deceased. It is possible for such people to honor their deceased mothers on the holiday and have an enjoyable observance of the day.
History of Mother’s Day
The practice of honoring motherhood has its origins in antiquity and has only in recent history been officially termed “Mother’s Day.” Ancient societies tended to honor goddesses and deities rather than actual mothers.Those honored in ancient societies ranged from mythological female deities to the Christian church itself. It has only been in the past few centuries that celebrating motherhood took on a human focus.
Later in history, an inception of a holiday to honor motherhood came from Europe. It was observed during Lent, the 40 days of fasting preceding Easter Sunday. Those early European Christians used the day to honor the church in which they were baptized because they considered their baptismal church “Mother Church.” In the 1600s a decree by English clerics expanded the celebration to include real mothers, earning the name Mothering Day.
When English settlers first came to America, they discontinued the Mothering Day tradition. One reason for the demise of Mothering Day in America may have been that the settlers lived under harsh conditions, working long hours to merely survive. The Puritan settlers may have also felt that Mothering Day conflicted with their religious ideals. The American Mother’s Day would be reinstated and reinvented centuries later.
Mother’s Day was first conceptualized in North America by Julia Ward Howe with her proclamation in 1870. Howe, writer of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” had become so disheartened and distressed by the death perpetuated by the Civil War that she called on mother’s to unite and protest what she deemed as the futility of their sons’ death in war. Howe’s organized observances gradually died out, however, when she stopped financing them.
Anna M. Jarvis campaigned for the creation of an official Mother’s Day in remembrance of her deceased mother and in honor of peace. On May 10, 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebration took place at Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia and a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anna Jarvis arranged for her mother’s favorite flower, white carnations, to adorn the patrons who attended the first celebration. Today, white carnations are used to honor deceased mothers, and pink or red carnations are used to honor mothers who are still alive. Andrew's Methodist Church is still in existence today, and it was incorporated into the International Mother’s Day Shrine in 1962.
Ways to Honor a Deceased Mother on Mother’s Day
Even though Mother’s Day can be difficult for those whose mothers are deceased, it’s advisable not to try to ignore the day. Instead remember the years spent with the family matriarch and share those lovely remembrances with other family members and friends.
Deceased mothers can be honored on Mother’s Day by family members planting a flower garden as a tribute. Every new bloom can bring a fond memory of the beloved deceased mother.
Those whose mothers are deceased will find it cathartic to visit their mothers’ graves on Mother’s Day. Placing a special arrangement of spring flowers there will make the tribute even more meaningful.
On Mother’s Day, those whose mothers are deceased can contribute to their mothers’ church or favorite charity as a memorial tribute.
A deceased mother can be memorialized on Mother’s Day by lighting a candle placed near her photograph. Even verbalizing to the photo image of the deceased mother, as the candle is being lit, how very much she is missed and loved can be quite cathartic.
Author Sunil S.
History of Mother’s Day
The practice of honoring motherhood has its origins in antiquity and has only in recent history been officially termed “Mother’s Day.” Ancient societies tended to honor goddesses and deities rather than actual mothers.Those honored in ancient societies ranged from mythological female deities to the Christian church itself. It has only been in the past few centuries that celebrating motherhood took on a human focus.
Later in history, an inception of a holiday to honor motherhood came from Europe. It was observed during Lent, the 40 days of fasting preceding Easter Sunday. Those early European Christians used the day to honor the church in which they were baptized because they considered their baptismal church “Mother Church.” In the 1600s a decree by English clerics expanded the celebration to include real mothers, earning the name Mothering Day.
When English settlers first came to America, they discontinued the Mothering Day tradition. One reason for the demise of Mothering Day in America may have been that the settlers lived under harsh conditions, working long hours to merely survive. The Puritan settlers may have also felt that Mothering Day conflicted with their religious ideals. The American Mother’s Day would be reinstated and reinvented centuries later.
Mother’s Day was first conceptualized in North America by Julia Ward Howe with her proclamation in 1870. Howe, writer of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” had become so disheartened and distressed by the death perpetuated by the Civil War that she called on mother’s to unite and protest what she deemed as the futility of their sons’ death in war. Howe’s organized observances gradually died out, however, when she stopped financing them.
Anna M. Jarvis campaigned for the creation of an official Mother’s Day in remembrance of her deceased mother and in honor of peace. On May 10, 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebration took place at Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia and a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anna Jarvis arranged for her mother’s favorite flower, white carnations, to adorn the patrons who attended the first celebration. Today, white carnations are used to honor deceased mothers, and pink or red carnations are used to honor mothers who are still alive. Andrew's Methodist Church is still in existence today, and it was incorporated into the International Mother’s Day Shrine in 1962.
Ways to Honor a Deceased Mother on Mother’s Day
Even though Mother’s Day can be difficult for those whose mothers are deceased, it’s advisable not to try to ignore the day. Instead remember the years spent with the family matriarch and share those lovely remembrances with other family members and friends.
Deceased mothers can be honored on Mother’s Day by family members planting a flower garden as a tribute. Every new bloom can bring a fond memory of the beloved deceased mother.
First Mother's Day – History of Mother's Day
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Those whose mothers are deceased will find it cathartic to visit their mothers’ graves on Mother’s Day. Placing a special arrangement of spring flowers there will make the tribute even more meaningful.
On Mother’s Day, those whose mothers are deceased can contribute to their mothers’ church or favorite charity as a memorial tribute.
A deceased mother can be memorialized on Mother’s Day by lighting a candle placed near her photograph. Even verbalizing to the photo image of the deceased mother, as the candle is being lit, how very much she is missed and loved can be quite cathartic.
Author Sunil S.
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