Every year’s second week in May is Mother’s day. This year, May 12th was mother’s day. Mother’s day is a day that we appreciate our mothers. But, do you know the history of mother’s day? Did you know that there is a very moving story behind it? And what have you done for your mother on Mother’s day? Let’s say “thank you” to our mothers!
The history of Mother’s day
Ancient Greek
Mother’s day was originated from the spring festival for appreciating Gods’ mother.
England (17 century)
Back then, people called the Sunday of 40th day before Easter as “Mothering Sunday”. People who left home for find work were allowed to get back and spend time with their mothers on that day. (The day had a meaning, which is “back to home”. This meaning is from in 1600 period a master let his employee back to home). For the gift they usually brought a certain kind of cake which was also called “mothering cake”
America (early 20 century)
The origination was from Virginia during the 1900’s. On May 9th, 1905 Anna’s mother died. Because she wanted to mourn her mother, on May 10th, 1908 she distributed white carnations in front of a church. This was the first time that they held mother’s day. This custom eventually spread all over America. Later in 1914, the president of America Wilson established that every year’s second week in May would be decided to all the mothers and would be called Mother’s day.
Japan
In Japan the first mother’s day was held in late Meiji and it was held in a church in 1915 then gradually spread all over Japan.
When the age entered in Syowa, they decided that March 6th would from now on be mother’s day. Because during that time, this day was the date which the empress was born. The date of mother’s was changed into second week in May after the war.
Ancient Greek
Mother’s day was originated from the spring festival for appreciating Gods’ mother.
England (17 century)
Back then, people called the Sunday of 40th day before Easter as “Mothering Sunday”. People who left home for find work were allowed to get back and spend time with their mothers on that day. (The day had a meaning, which is “back to home”. This meaning is from in 1600 period a master let his employee back to home). For the gift they usually brought a certain kind of cake which was also called “mothering cake”
America (early 20 century)
The origination was from Virginia during the 1900’s. On May 9th, 1905 Anna’s mother died. Because she wanted to mourn her mother, on May 10th, 1908 she distributed white carnations in front of a church. This was the first time that they held mother’s day. This custom eventually spread all over America. Later in 1914, the president of America Wilson established that every year’s second week in May would be decided to all the mothers and would be called Mother’s day.
Japan
In Japan the first mother’s day was held in late Meiji and it was held in a church in 1915 then gradually spread all over Japan.
When the age entered in Syowa, they decided that March 6th would from now on be mother’s day. Because during that time, this day was the date which the empress was born. The date of mother’s was changed into second week in May after the war.
Short and beautiful story
The boy and the apple tree
| A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples and took a nap under its shadow. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by… the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day. One day, the boy came back to the tree. “Come and play with me” the tree asked the boy. “I’m no longer a kid, I don’t play around trees anymore.” The boy replied. “I want toys. I need money to buy them” “Sorry, I don’t have money…but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you’ll have money” So, the boy grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily but he never came back. One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. “Come and play with me” the tree said.” I don’t have time to play, I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?” “Sorry, I don’t have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house” So, the boy did that and left happily. However the tree was again lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. “Come and play with me!” the tree said. “I’m getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?” “Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.” So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time. The tree was happy, but it was not true. |
Finally the boy returned after he left for so many years. “Sorry, my boy. I don’t have anything for you anymore.” the tree said. “I really can’t give you anything… the only thing left is my dying roots” the tree said with tears. “I don’t need much now, just a place to rest. I’m tired after all these years.” The boy replied. “Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, come sit down with me and rest” The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears…
In this case, the tree represents our parents. We enjoyed playing with them when we were children. However, when we grown up, we end up leaving them, and only come back to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give you everything they can to make you happy. Our parents will one day be old they must be cared for like they did for us. Never ever say “I don’t have time “or something like that because we’ll never be able to return their love.
In this case, the tree represents our parents. We enjoyed playing with them when we were children. However, when we grown up, we end up leaving them, and only come back to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give you everything they can to make you happy. Our parents will one day be old they must be cared for like they did for us. Never ever say “I don’t have time “or something like that because we’ll never be able to return their love.
What did you do on mother’s day?
I asked Grade 8 girls and friends from my old school (QJS -Qingdao Japanese school ) what they did on mother’s day and following are their respond.
If you want to do something but have no idea, you can refer to following; these were all done by students.
“I made 12 house work tickets which include sweeping the floor, washing the dishes and mopping the floor. I said happy mother’s day, here is your present and when I gave it to my mum and I told my mum if you can’t use them all until the end of 2014, you’ll have to pay me 100 kuai. My mother looked very happy and I was happy as well. ”
“I bought a fumet which smells like lavender. A shop employee suggested me to buy it. Unfortunately we were fighting when I gave her the present, but later she said it smells very good and she love it. So, I was very happy.”
“I bought a bracelet for my mother. The price was reasonable and my mother loved it. I think I got a good present for my mother because I saved my money for her and it made my mother happy.”
“I brought a bouquet of carnations. However, my mother didn’t like it. She said that it too common and she wanted something more special. I was a little bit disappointed, but thanks to my mother’s honesty, I’ll never spend money on flowers but spend it to buy something more special.”
“I bought an oil cooker because the one which in my house didn’t work. My mother was so happy because she doesn’t have to go and buy it by herself any more. I was happy too because I was able to eat my mother’s home cooking again. ”
“I didn’t buy anything for my mother but I treated her to a dinner. We had a good time together. However my pocket money was crying. My mother told me that she loved it and she wants me to do that every mother’s day from now on. ”
What kind of mother’s day do you want to spend?
Mother’s opinion
“I want to travel.”
“I want my child to give me some presents like flowers or a necklace.”
“I don’t want to do any house work. I don’t want to get up early and I want to relax myself. For
example, go to the café or go to a beauty parlor shop.”
“I want to spend my Mother’s day with my mum. I want to talk with her for a long time. ”
What kind of mother’s day do you want to spend when you become a mother?
Students’ opinion
“I want to play with my children because I think I’ll be very busy and I’ll have no time to play with them. So, I want to use mother’s day to spend time together with them.”
“I want to relax myself and I really look forward to my children’s present.”
“I want to go outside with my friends and forget all things about house work.”
“I want to go shopping and I want to spend a carefree, leisurely and easy going day!!”
My mother’s day
This time the three generations of the mothers, I mean my mother, my grandmother and my great grandmother were staying in my home by chance.
My mother came up with an idea that we can help them to wash their feet. It sounds weird but it really good for health and it is kind of a habit in China as well. My mother told me that helping them to wash their feet is an expression of filial piety or an act of been dutiful of one’s parents in China. You know, feet are the dirtiest part of body but since we were children, our parents always help us to wash our feet. Now, they were getting old and have no power to do that, so, it is our turn to help them just as once they helped us. This is the reason that we thought helping our parents is an expression of filial piety. I think it is kind of “returning” the love which I got from them.
I asked Grade 8 girls and friends from my old school (QJS -Qingdao Japanese school ) what they did on mother’s day and following are their respond.
If you want to do something but have no idea, you can refer to following; these were all done by students.
“I made 12 house work tickets which include sweeping the floor, washing the dishes and mopping the floor. I said happy mother’s day, here is your present and when I gave it to my mum and I told my mum if you can’t use them all until the end of 2014, you’ll have to pay me 100 kuai. My mother looked very happy and I was happy as well. ”
“I bought a fumet which smells like lavender. A shop employee suggested me to buy it. Unfortunately we were fighting when I gave her the present, but later she said it smells very good and she love it. So, I was very happy.”
“I bought a bracelet for my mother. The price was reasonable and my mother loved it. I think I got a good present for my mother because I saved my money for her and it made my mother happy.”
“I brought a bouquet of carnations. However, my mother didn’t like it. She said that it too common and she wanted something more special. I was a little bit disappointed, but thanks to my mother’s honesty, I’ll never spend money on flowers but spend it to buy something more special.”
“I bought an oil cooker because the one which in my house didn’t work. My mother was so happy because she doesn’t have to go and buy it by herself any more. I was happy too because I was able to eat my mother’s home cooking again. ”
“I didn’t buy anything for my mother but I treated her to a dinner. We had a good time together. However my pocket money was crying. My mother told me that she loved it and she wants me to do that every mother’s day from now on. ”
What kind of mother’s day do you want to spend?
Mother’s opinion
“I want to travel.”
“I want my child to give me some presents like flowers or a necklace.”
“I don’t want to do any house work. I don’t want to get up early and I want to relax myself. For
example, go to the café or go to a beauty parlor shop.”
“I want to spend my Mother’s day with my mum. I want to talk with her for a long time. ”
What kind of mother’s day do you want to spend when you become a mother?
Students’ opinion
“I want to play with my children because I think I’ll be very busy and I’ll have no time to play with them. So, I want to use mother’s day to spend time together with them.”
“I want to relax myself and I really look forward to my children’s present.”
“I want to go outside with my friends and forget all things about house work.”
“I want to go shopping and I want to spend a carefree, leisurely and easy going day!!”
My mother’s day
This time the three generations of the mothers, I mean my mother, my grandmother and my great grandmother were staying in my home by chance.
My mother came up with an idea that we can help them to wash their feet. It sounds weird but it really good for health and it is kind of a habit in China as well. My mother told me that helping them to wash their feet is an expression of filial piety or an act of been dutiful of one’s parents in China. You know, feet are the dirtiest part of body but since we were children, our parents always help us to wash our feet. Now, they were getting old and have no power to do that, so, it is our turn to help them just as once they helped us. This is the reason that we thought helping our parents is an expression of filial piety. I think it is kind of “returning” the love which I got from them.
Therefore, we decided to take care of it on Mother’s day. First was from my great grandmother and grandmother. They were very shy especially my great grandmother at first. But within the next few minutes a very moving thing which I’ll never forget, happened.
They were crying. They just said “thank you” but nothing else. I was surprised, but I felt their hardship. My mother and I laughed at first, and then cried with them. Actually, I didn’t understand why they were crying, perhaps because I’ve never been a mother, but I really felt their difficulties, and I thought I would do my best to be a good daughter.