The idea of honoring a mother’s love and dedication dates back to the Ancient Romans and Greeks who idolized their Mother Goddesses and worshipped them during the spring months.
Mother's Day started as a way to celebrate Rhea, the mother of the Greek mythological gods. In the 17th century, the idea transitioned to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus. Over time, the celebration included all mothers paying homage to the undying love and selfless commitment of mothers pertaining to all religions.
Mother’s Day
While countries all over the world may celebrate Mother’s Day on different months or dates, the concept is to pay a special tribute to the most important women in our life. In many countries, such as the U.S., Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Other countries may have different dates. For example, the United Kingdom celebrates Mother's Day on the fourth Sunday during the period of Lent.
However, different religions celebrate this occasion in their own unique way. In almost all religions, celebrations comprise giving flowers, chocolates, gifts or honoring them with a kind message.
Today, millions of people celebrate Mother’s Day regardless of their religion to show how much they love and respect their mother. Let’s find out how different faiths and religions honor mothers.
Judaism
Here is a little unknown fact. Jews already celebrate their own version of Mother’s Day on their Jewish liturgical calendar. For Jews, the 11th of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan has been a sort of Jewish Mother’s Day. The day is associated with the death of their matriarch, Rachel.
All around the world, Jews continue to celebrate Mother’s Day through common rituals, such as flowers, wishes, and messages. Although no contemporary or traditional text captures the essence of the modern concept of Mother’s Day, some Jewish texts mark the importance of mothers and the role they play in our lives. Jews also order Jewish headstones and Jewish monuments on this day to honor their deceased mothers.
Islam
While some Islamic scholars consider Mother’s Day celebrations to be ‘Haram’ or ‘not permissible,’ many clerics allow Muslims to participate in the festivities. While the Prophet Muhammad and his companions did not celebrate Mother’s Day, every year, thousands of Muslims take part in the celebrations. Typical celebrations include presenting flowers, making ‘duas’ (prayers), or preparing meals to help them with their responsibilities.
In Islam, honoring one’s mother does not end even when she dies. That’s because Muslims believe they can serve the dead through ‘Sadaqah Jariyah,’ which means a continuous and ongoing charity. For instance, a Muslim can pray for his mother’s forgiveness by doing good deeds for her or carry out any of her last wishes. On this day, many Muslims also visit the cemetery to recite prayers for their deceased mother.
Christianity
Evangelicals consider motherhood as an important event. Since Jesus came into the world as a helpless baby dependent upon Mary’s nourishment and care, Christians consider Mother’s Day as an incredible opportunity to pay homage to Christian mothers all around the world. Although the Bible does not command Christians to honor their mothers on a specific day nor condemns it, Christians follow the ‘Honor your father and mother’ commandment for celebrating the occasion.
In Christianity, Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditional celebrations include breakfast in bed, flowers, gifts, special meals, and gifts. Although these holidays are not religious in nature, they recognize the efforts and love of parents.
Many cemeteries in Seattle, such as the Seattle Washington Calvary Cemetery, the Seattle Washington Crown Hill Cemetery, and the Herzl Ner Tamid Cemetery, observe a spike in visitors on this day. Every year, thousands of Christians celebrate this day by getting personalized monuments and unique memorial headstones for their departed mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and all mother-like figures.
Catholics
For Catholics, celebrating Mother’s Day is a crucial part of their faith. Many Catholics acknowledge the importance of celebrating the day and make their mothers feel important by treating them with gifts, meals, and flowers. However, Catholics can also do something charitable for all the mothers in the community to recognize and thank God for the gift of life and to speak with the Virgin Mother.
Inscribing scriptures and Bible verses on catholic headstones and catholic monuments is also a popular way to celebrate Mother’s Day for commemorating deceased mothers and motherly figures.
Mormons
Mormons belong to a religious group that follows Christianity concepts as well as revelations by their founder, Joseph Smith. Primarily, Mormons belong to LDS or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The followers have their headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mormons begin Mother’s Day celebrations with a family prayer, having breakfast together, and going to Church as a family. Typically, the young men of the congregation present flowers, gifts, and chocolates to their mothers at the end of Sacrament services.
Once the Church services are over, mothers can enjoy a special meal prepared by their family. More than sixteen million Mormons all around the world believe that the body is a gift from God that they must respect and care for and not abuse or pollute. Many Mormons celebrate Mother’s Day by engraving distinct features on monuments, such as the Salt Lake Temple. Mormons also like engraving ‘Together Forever,’ ‘For Time and Eternity,’ and ‘Families are forever’ on cemetery memorials.
However, Mother’s Day is not the only day that Mormons celebrate to honor motherhood. Followers teach their children to obey, honor and respect their mother from their young days. Fathers teach through their example by respecting and loving their wives.
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Cemetery Monuments from Quiring Monuments
No matter what religion you follow, Mother’s Day gives everyone an opportunity to express his or her love and commitment. Many of us who no longer have our mothers with us can honor their spirit by customizing their headstones and monuments. At Quiring Monuments, our expert and skilled designers add a graphic representation, symbol, text, or a favorite photo to Seattle headstones. Dial (206) 809-9500 to get in touch with us, and we will create beautiful and memorable cemetery memorials according to your needs and budget.
Sources
https://dailyhistory.org/How_did_Mother%27s_Day_develop%3F