Today is Mother's Day. History and traditions of holiday

Mother's Day in Ukraine is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. On this day, it is customary to congratulate your mothers with flowers, cards, various gifts and spend time together. Ukrainian News Agency will tell you about the history and importance of the holiday.

In its modern form, this holiday originated in the United States. It was founded by American social activist Anna Jarvis, who sought to honor the memory of her mother. The first Mother's Day service was held on May 10, 1908. Already in 1914, American President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday of May a national holiday in honor of mothers. After World War I, Mother's Day began to be celebrated in Europe as well.

The official celebration of Mother's Day in Ukraine was established by Presidential Decree No. 489/99 of May 10, 1999. The date of the holiday changes and falls on the second Sunday of May each year. This is an important day for each of us to reflect on our roots and honor mothers as the foundation of the family and the entire nation.

In the Ukrainian community, Mother's Day was first organized by the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada in 1928. The following year, this holiday was already celebrated in Lviv. In 1939, the celebration of Mother's Day was banned by the Soviet authorities. Since 1990, through the efforts of public organizations, in particular the Union of Ukrainian Women, Mother's Day has returned to Ukraine and has been celebrated annually since 2000.

In Ukraine, this day has been officially celebrated since 1999 and is harmoniously combined with the May commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is considered the patroness of all mothers. In our culture, the image of the mother is sacred. She is the Guardian, who has passed down language, song, and steadfast faith for centuries. It is no coincidence that May is considered her month - a time of renewal of nature and the flowering of life.

How to celebrate

People celebrate Mother's Day in different ways. One of its advantages is that you can celebrate according to what you think is best for your family. For example, some people like to give mom a day off from housework. Everyone else in the family cooks and cleans. There are families who like to invite mothers to a special dinner. After all, the purpose of Mother's Day is to let mom know how much her family loves and appreciates her for all she does.

The best gift is not a thing, but the feeling that mom is appreciated. Here are some ideas to make this day unforgettable:

• An evening of warm memories. Instead of a regular dinner, cook mom's favorite dish from childhood together. The main thing is not cooking, but talking without gadgets.
• Gifts with a story. A book by her favorite writer, a photo album that you made yourself.
• The symbolism of flowers. Traditionally, flowers are given on this day. Remember that red petals symbolize life and gratitude, and white ones symbolize warm memories of those mothers who are now watching us from heaven.
• Your time is the most valuable gift. Moms often say that what they miss most is just spending time together. A walk in the park, a cup of tea together, or a long phone conversation if you are far away is the true meaning of the holiday.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, last year, for Mother's Day, Ukrzaliznytsia dedicated the names of trains running across the country to railway workers whose children serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine or gave their lives for Ukraine.

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