Roses, quirky mugs and family lunches may have been the typical way to celebrate Mother’s Day, but for 2020 families are embracing innovative ways to say thank you to mothers.
Many children have opted for homemade gifts and helping out with chores at home to show their love.
The EFF wishes a happy and revolutionary Mother’s Day to all mothers. #HappyMothersDay pic.twitter.com/8cRYtvmrlV
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) May 10, 2020
As the world remains in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, 13-year-old Langalihle Mnembe says this Mother’s Day might be different, but it will still be special.
“As much as we would like to have the big dinner parties and invite all of our friends to celebrate, but unfortunately the new reality we are being faced with says otherwise. We can still celebrate mother’s day by respecting social distancing and so on. We owe it to them.”
Cape Town sisters Hannah and Emily Fry decided on giving their mom the day off.
“At school for mother’s day we would have made gift baskets and cards. But since its lockdown, my sister and I are going to help around the house with cleaning,” says Hannah.
Emily says in the past, they would make Mother’s Day cards for their mother.
“At school we would make cards. Please don’t tell my mom; my teachers are making a video to say thank you to all the moms.”
My mother… and the one who made me a mother… ?? pic.twitter.com/2WC2WpzbJl
— Naledi Chirwa (@NalediChirwa) May 10, 2020
Happy Mother’s Day to the Queen Mother, @Kekepile and all mothers in the #bforce ❤??
Hope you all have a beautiful, blessed day!! Thank you for all that you do ?
You’re all appreciated ???@bonang_m ?
???? pic.twitter.com/H4WyFLm4i1
— Bonang M’s World (@QueenBs_World) May 10, 2020
Mother’s Day was founded by Anna Maria Jarvis in the United States in the early 20th century. She was a peace activist, who cared for injured American soldiers during the Civil War.
Jarvis is said to have started the commemoration following her mother’s death, who had frequently expressed the desire to have such a day established.
The day was first celebrated in 1908 when Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. The Church was incorporated as the International Mother’s Day Shrine in 1962.
Similar commemorations such as Father’s Day were also established after the introduction of Mother’s Day.
The commemoration is celebrated annually between March and May and is not directly related to traditional motherhood celebrations that have existed for many years throughout the world.
However, Javis is said to have regretted the day as it had become too commericalised. She said that this was never her intention.
