Mother’s Day Tradition and Meaning

The time of the years rolls around once again when we’re prompted to offer gifts of flowers or sweets to the one who stands by us through thick and thin. Mother’s day is a tradition so highly commercialized yet its roots go back to the beginning of time.

The History of Mothers Day

Isn’t it odd to describe the divine feminine and the primal physical presence with a word that begins with “him”? There is no question about it, that without the yang there is no movement to the yin, but without the yin the yang is lacking its life-giving resources.

Mother’s day is a christian idea, giving it a limited history. If we go back further in time we will find mother worship in ancient Egypt and other ancient cultures. The divine feminine remains with us with so many amazing goddess presence seen in Lakshmi, Quan Yin, Gaia, and so many others.

An ancient Asian ceremony was offered to the “Mother of Gods”, celebrating the power of motherhood. This differs from the more maternal, nurturing perspective that we celebrate today. The great Mother of the Gods held sacred the lion, the oak, and the pine. The festival of Hilaria also celebrated motherhood on the Ides of March, and this day lifted motherhood into a place of dignity and honor.

Mother’s Day in Christianity

Christianity brought in a shift in the focus, and during times with little to celebrate a tradition was offered to bring a small gift to one’s parents, especially to the mother. This present could be a small trinket or cake. In those times women were scarcely appreciated for their hard work to sustain their families. In those old times and even today Mother’s day is a time to show appreciation for these dedicated efforts.

They say that main is mighty,
He governs land and sea,
He wields a mighty scepter
O’er lesser powers than he;
But mightier power and stronger
Man from his throne has hurled,
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.
Poem by W.R. Wallace

A Jewish saying brings smiles to many: “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers”. Abraham Lincoln shared the words: “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother”. Napoleon shared this sentiment and took it to his country by saying, “Let France have good mothers and she will have good sons”.

Mother’s Day – a day of Honor

Mothers day can be a day of honor for those who have birthed and raised us. Thanks can be given to our grandmothers and mentors as well. We can take this day and its celebration on a global level by giving thanks to the feminine qualities of the earth in the name Gaia. The Mayan calendar with its 20 glyphs begins with Imix, the alligator, that primal birthing of our life here on earth. We can carry our time of gratitude and honor inward and celebrate our own yin energies and our connection to this world that nourishes and supports us every day of our lives.

Happy Mother’s day to everyone.

© 2011 Estee Taschereau. Learn more about the celebration of life through honor seen in hummingbird presence and other soul-level recognition we find in the qualities of those around us.

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