Mother’s Day returns, like every year, on the second Sunday of May. The whole world celebrates the maternal figure, motherhood and the social role of mothers, who on the same day as the “Mother’s day”, who on slightly different dates: the recurrence however has a spring cadence linked to the cycle of natural rebirth after a long winter. Furthermore, it is no coincidence that the association of the festival with spring flowers that the earth gives us after the winter rest.
Globally, the feast and its annual anniversary originate between the late 1800s and the first decades of the 1900s, in Italy instead Mother’s Day has been celebrated since the 1950s. The rite to honor the mother’s figure, however, has very ancient origins: the Greeks already dedicated a day in honor of the parent with the celebrations in honor of Rhea, the mother of all the gods.
Today Mother’s Day represents an important anniversary on the calendar, so much so that it is considered one of the most important of the year. It is a secular festival particularly felt and celebrated with events that embrace deep emotional meanings, social values and commercial implications.
On Mother’s Day, gifts, flowers, sweets and cards are vehicles of love that reach the most remote corners of the world, but also of the heart. At school, in the weeks leading up to this important date, the children work hard to pack chores and phrases overflowing with love.
Thoughts and attentions are also in the hearts of older children and affectionate family members who wish to honor their mother worthily, one of the fundamental figures in the life of each of us.
The simplest yet most significant gift is represented by flowers: whether they are roses or floral arrangements, the message of love and dedication chooses the flowery way to express itself in the best way. If you are undecided, your trusted florist will advise you on the most suitable choice for a floral gift that goes straight to the heart.
Wildflowers, roses, lilies, daisies, tulips, violets or lush plants: choose according to your taste or the taste of the mother and follow your heart. Add a ticket with a love message and Mother’s Day will be unforgettable. Do not miss a delicate cake or creamy mignon and the party will be very sweet.
If you want to add a beneficial purpose to the floral gift, for years the AIRC – Italian Association for Cancer Research has been promoting the purchase of azalea in many Italian squares to symbolize, together with Mother’s Day, the fight against tumors. The proceeds will go to research and you will have contributed to making the anniversary an important moment of reflection.
In terms of reflections, in the festive atmosphere, attention to the social role played by the mother in society, not only for individual families, but for all communities, could be overshadowed. It is good to remember that mothers often take on commitments and responsibilities to which bodies and municipalities are unable to respond adequately.
In many cases, mothers make an obligatory choice: to abandon work and dedicate themselves completely to their children because the services available to families are insufficient. Or, what were once young mothers, today are grandmothers who largely compensate for the gaps in a welfare system that does not offer answers in line with the needs of families.
Motherhood still seems a difficult condition to face, almost an obstacle for professional life. Then, if we compare the condition of Italian mothers with that of European and American mothers, another element emerges to dwell on: Italian women struggle much more, given that much more often they deal with domestic life alone.
That Mother’s Day is then not only a day of hugs, gifts and affectionate thoughts, but also a moment of reflection on the condition of who is woman and mother and on the opportunities that are often denied. Even saying it with a flower can be a step forward: Happy Feast of the
