Mother’s Day is celebrated in Australia on the second Sunday in May. It is a special opportunity, and perhaps a reminder, to connect with, to remember, and to honour one’s mother. The occasion has been publicly celebrated in the Land Down Under since 1909 (with it becoming widespread by 1910).[1]
On 15 May 1909 The Chronicle (Adelaide), said
““Mothers’ Day” was observed by many people and in many places in Adelaide on Sunday. In scores of buttonholes were to be seen either white ribbons or white flowers, the emblems of truth and purity, and the filial evidence that “the wearer loves to honor his mother.” At Prospect Methodist Church and elsewhere the services had reference to the subject of motherhood.
The suggestion that on one day in the year the residents of the Commonwealth should join with those in America and other lands in paying a tribute of respect and gratitude to all good mothers has apparently proved acceptable to a large portion of the community, and it is likely that year by year the observance of the anniversary will expand over a wider area.”[2]
There was an early suggestion made that in Australia supporters of the occasion could wear wattle, instead of a white carnation. The idea was adopted by some, but never really took off. It is likely that the suggestion of using wattle as a symbol for Mother’s Day was overtaken by the implementation of Wattle Day, with the creation of the Wattle Day League in late 1909.[3]
The creation of Mother’s Day was the brainwave of Anna Jarvis (1864-1948; of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). A memorial service for her late mother was held on 12 May 1907 at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church (in Grafton, West Virginia), which was her mother’s church. The following year, Jarvis organised the first Mother’s Day event in that church, on 10 May 1908; she also organised a Mother’s Day service for the same day in Philadelphia, which was attended by 15,000 people. In large part due to Anna’s strident campaigning, the idea caught on, and the custom became widespread quite quickly, with every state in the US celebrating Mother’s Day by 1911, and the day was proclaimed nationally by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. The concept was widely supported, except for some “ultra-progressive” women who scoffed at the public display of honouring mothers.[4]
Mother’s Day came to be celebrated worldwide by almost 100 countries. However, many other countries have their own celebrations of motherhood on different days, in accordance with their own cultural, historical, or religious practices or events of significance.[5]
Jarvis promoted the idea of people wearing a white carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) as a symbol of honouring one’s mother. However, a trend developed whereby people began wearing a red or pink carnation if their mother was alive, and only wearing a white carnation if their mother was deceased. Although it was not the intention of the day’s founder, Mother’s Day became commercialised as an occasion to send cards and give presents, whereas Jarvis wanted the day to be one purely dedicated to the honouring of mothers, and strongly objected to the commercialisation which came to dominate the occasion.[6]
With regards to the apostrophe in the day’s name, Jarvis specifically wanted to have the occasion called “Mother’s Day” (for a mother, singular), rather than “Mother’s Day” (for mothers, plural), to emphasis that the day was intended for each family unit to honour their own mother (as distinct from honouring all mothers in general), so as to personalise the occasion for each mother.[7]
The concept of holding a Mother’s Day was promoted in connection with the visit to Australia in 1909 of the American evangelists Dr. Wilbur Chapman and Mr. C. M. Alexander. The idea was eagerly supported, and some “Mother’s Days” were held in mid to late 1909 in those areas where the preachers were holding Christian revival meetings. The following year, Mother’s Day was held on the second Sunday in May, and the custom has been continued ever since.[8]
Whilst there have been some naysayers in early years, who have opposed the idea of having a Mother’s Day, the response to the concept was generally positive. As one newspaper said of the idea, “We commend the noble movement as worthy of local adaptation in Australia.”[9]
From its beginnings in America, Mother’s Day has become a worldwide event. The Australian people eagerly latched onto the idea of celebrating and honouring their mothers, and the day has become a significant one in the Australian calendar.
Articles relating to Mother’s Day:
(Arranged in chronological order.)
Mothers’ Day [10 May 1909]
An article about Mother’s Day, which mentions the celebration of Mother’s Day in Adelaide. Published in The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA).
Mother’s Day [20 May 1909]
An article about Mother’s Day, with an emphasis on the need for Protestant mothers to imbue their children with the principles of Protestantism. Published in The Watchman (Sydney, NSW).
Mothers’ Day [13 May 1921]
A brief article regarding the celebration of Mother’s Day in Katoomba. Published in The Blue Mountain Echo (Katoomba, NSW).
Mother’s Day [by the Rev. E. Tredinnick, 8 May 1934]
A short article about the celebration of Mother’s Day, by the Reverend E. Tredinnick. Published in The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (Lockhart, NSW).
Mothers’ Day is one of introspection: Lithgow Church celebrations [14 May 1934]
An article regarding the celebration of Mother’s Day in Lithgow. Published in The Lithgow Mercury (Lithgow, NSW).
Mother’s Day [by Rev. Father J. M. Cusack, 25 May 1944]
An article about Mother’s Day, especially regarding the mother of a man who was killed in action during the Second World War (1939-1945), by the Reverend Father J. M. Cusack. Published in The Catholic Weekly (Sydney, NSW).
References:
[1] “Topics of the day”, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 10 May 1909, p. 6 (see section “Mothers’ Day”) [“”Mothers’ Day” was observed by many people and in many places in Adelaide yesterday.”]
“Mothers’ Day”, The Register (Adelaide, SA), 10 May 1909, p. 7 [“The wearing of a white flower … though not greatly in evidence, was noticeable here and there”]
“The country”, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 14 May 1909, p. 11, column 3 (see section “Yorketown”) [“The various churches in the district celebrated “Mothers’ Day” on Sunday. All who attended the services wore a white flower.”]
Small Chiel, “General jottings”, The Quorn Mercury; Hawker and Great Norther Courier (Quorn, SA), 14 May 1909, p. 3 [“I was pleased to notice so many in Quorn wearing the white flower or spray.”]
“Mothers’ Day” (letters), The Chronicle (Adelaide, SA), 15 May 1909, p. 45 [“Yesterday was the first Mothers’ Day that has been celebrated as yet”]
“Sacred to mothers: A great movement”, The Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas.), 15 May 1909, p. 8 [Mother’s Day mentioned in a number of churches; the widespread wearing of white flowers]
“Mother’s Day”, The Watchman (Sydney, NSW), 20 May 1909, p. 4 [“This year quite a number of churches in Adelaide took part in the commemoration.”]
“Mothers’ Day”, The Sydney Morning Herald (Sydney, NSW), 7 May 1921, p. 7 [incorrectly says that “Mothers’ Day was introduced into Australia in 1910”]
[2] “Current topics”, The Chronicle (Adelaide, SA), 15 May 1909, p. 35, column 2
[3] E. Mason, “A “Mother’s Day”” (letter), The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 6 July 1908, p. 10
“Tea table topics”, The Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW), 12 July 1908, p. 21 (Second Edition) [republication of E. Mason’s letter]
“Chapman-Alexander mission: Second day”, The Bendigo Advertiser (Bendigo, Vic.), 31 July 1909, p. 10 [“”Mother’s Day,” when citizens would be asked to wear a spray of wattle blossom in memory of their mothers.”]
“Extra meetings”, The Bendigo Independent (Bendigo, Vic.), 2 August 1909, p. 5 [“Friday has been fixed as Mothers’ Day, and it will be observed by the male citizens (men and boys) wearing … a spray of golden wattle blossom”]
““Mothers’ Day””, The Bendigo Advertiser (Bendigo, Vic.), 7 August 1909, p. 8 [re the Chapman-Alexander mission: “Springs of wattle blossom worn by men and women, girls and boys, old people and young people, were very much in evidence yesterday, and indicated that the wearers were observing “Mothers’ Day,” an institution brought into our midst by the American evangelists who have been conducting the mission in Bendigo”]
“Chapman-Alexander mission”, The Bendigo Advertiser (Bendigo, Vic.), 7 August 1909, p. 10 [“Mothers’ Day … the widespread adoption by men, women and children of the suggestion of the missioners and executive that they should wear a sprig of wattle blossom as “a golden memory of mother.””]
Wattle Day, The Institute of Australian Culture, 1 September 2021
[4] “Mother’s Day: holiday”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
“Mother’s Day”, Wikipedia
“International Mother’s Day Shrine”, Wikipedia
“Anna Jarvis”, Wikipedia
“Jarvis, Anna”, in: Andrea O’Reilly (general editor), Encyclopedia of Motherhood, Volume 1 (A-K), Thousand Oaks (California, USA): SAGE Publications Inc., 2010, p. 602
“Mother’s Day”, in: Joseph M. Hawes and Elizabeth F. Shores, The Family in America: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1 (A-G), Santa Barbara (California, USA): ABC-CLIO Inc., 2001, p. 714
“Mothers’ Day”, The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.), 5 July 1909, p. 6 [a report from the USA: “A few ultra-progressive American women openly scoff at the display.”]
[5] “Mother’s Day”, Wikipedia
[6] “Mother’s Day: holiday”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
“Mother’s Day”, Wikipedia
Kirsten Reneau, “Mother’s Day holds onto its roots in North Central West Virginia”, The Exponent Telegram, WVNews (West Virginia, USA), 14 May 2017
[7] ““Mothers Day” vs. “Mother’s Day”: What’s the correct way for celebrating Mom?”, Thesaurus.com, 7 May 2021
[8] “Chapman-Alexander mission”, The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA), 14 July 1909, p. 1 (4 o’clock edition)
“For Mother!”, The Register (Adelaide, SA), 19 July 1909, p. 6 [“the Chapman-Alexander mission … next Wednesday had been appointed “Mothers’ Day” in connection with the revival.”]
“White flowers for Mothers’ Day”, The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA), 20 July 1909, p. 3 (4 o’clock edition) [Chapman-Alexander mission]
“The evangelists: Midday meeting: Ministers make reports”, The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA), 22 July 1909, p. 9 [“Wednesday was church day, mothers’ day, and old people’s day in connection with the Chapman-Alexander mission … all the men present were wearing white flowers in their coats to mark mothers’ day. … White flowers were conspicuous in the men’s coats.”]
“Devonport”, The North-Western Advocate and the Emu Bay Times (Devonport, Tas.), 9 September 1909, p. 2 [“Yesterday afternoon, “Mothers’ Day,” was inaugurated at the West Devonport Methodist Church”]
“A new institution”, The North-West Post (West Devonport, Tas.), 8 September 1909, p. 2 [announcement: “”Mothers’ Day” will be inaugurated at the Methodist Church this afternoon.”]
“Inauguration of “Mothers’ Day,” Methodist Church”, The North-West Post (West Devonport, Tas.), 8 September 1909, p. 3 [advertisement]
“Parents’ Day”, The Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), 2 October 1909, p. 3 [an American plan to change Mother’s Day to Parents’ Day]
[9] Epacris, “For women: “Mothers’ Day””, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), 12 May 1909, p. 7 (Third Edition) [against Mother’s Day]
“Mother’s Day”, The Wellington Times (Wellington, NSW), 27 May 1909, p. 7 [“We commend the noble movement”]
“On “days””, Building (Sydney, NSW), 11 October 1912, p. 127 [against Mother’s Day and several other celebratory days]
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