MOM-DAY

Happy Mother’s Day, mom!

Mother’s Day (today!) celebrates mom. Father’s Day (19 June 2011) celebrates dad.

Strangely enough, the origins of both holidays (in the U.S.) may be traced to West Virginia memorials…circa 1908.

Mother’s Day took off in America after a commemorative church service was held honoring Anna Jarvis’ mother Ann. (Eventually, Anna sued to stop the over-commercialization of the day by card companies and florists.)

Father’s Day began after a memorial service was held for a large group of men who had been killed in a mining accident. (Jarvis’ Mother’s Day served as an inspiration when it was formally established.)

Both holidays were started to remember parents who had died, not to celebrate living parents—as is the custom today. (Much like Memorial Day is meant to remember soldiers killed in combat, and Veteran’s Day is meant to honor living veterans of military service.)

A more recent development in the United States is that Mother’s Day is often the day we beatify our mothers, while Father’s Day is used to challenge men to be better dads.

I believe this is rooted in long-standing gender stereotypes…the idea that women are naturally good-hearted and loving, especially toward their children…while men are harder emotionally, bad to wander, less vital to a child’s care and nurture.

Aw, who knows? Maybe I’m just paranoid…being a dad and all.