“Mother”, how many times have you said that word ever since you were brought into this world? Countless right? Yet we say it naturally and repeatedly, without taking a moment to think about the depth of its meaning. For so many of us, it may have been the first word to come out of our mouths as babies. We have attached various meanings to this word, but what does it truly mean?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, as a noun, it simply means “a female parent,” and as a verb, it means “To treat a person with great kindness and love and to try to protect them from anything dangerous or difficult”. These two definitions, amongst others, show that as a society we hold various meanings about this word. For the longest time, mothers have always been the pillar of families. One that has superpowers to take care of everyone else, from cooking to making sure that the house looks clean. Sometimes one who cares enough to share her knowledge and wisdom. Like the definition said, one who is kind enough to protect you from all kinds of dangers and cruelties of this world. Whether a mother by birth, blood, or association, they all have one thing in common: to love, protect, and care for.
Mothers are so special and powerful that there is a specific day that the world celebrates them, whether by giving them handwritten notes or shared meals. Now, what is the history behind Mother’s Day?
According to an article written by Britannica, this holiday originated in the United States, established by American social activist Anna Jarvis, with the purpose of honoring her mother. The first Mother’s Day church service was held on May 10, 1908. The day became a national holiday six years later, and it is observed in the U.S. on the second Sunday in May. In the modern day, it is celebrated internationally by many countries.
110+ countries, including India, China, the U.S etc celebrate this day on the 10th of May; countries such as Syria, Iraq, Palestine, etc celebrate it on the 21st of March; France and most of Francophone Africa wait until the last Sunday of May; and Russia, Indonesia, Thailand, Norway, and Mexico all sit alone on their own dates. Russia: last Sunday of November. Indonesia: December 22 (Hari Ibu, commemorating the 1928 Women’s Congress). Thailand: August 12 (Queen Sirikit’s birthday). Norway: 2nd Sunday of February. This, according to an article on Mappr by Andreas De Rosi (2026). Even though these countries celebrate this day on different days, they all celebrate it in almost the same way: flowers, cards, hampers, and simple cooked meals. Mostly, in this digital era, people post about their mothers and write sweet messages online to show appreciation and love for their mothers. In pictures, people appreciate their mothers who gave birth to them, their grandmothers who took care of them, their sisters, school teachers, neighbours, etc. This shows the different meanings of mothers. And how the concept of motherhood is shown in society.
On the 10th of May 2026, we saw how people thanked their mother figures, even though they were in different countries; you could feel the atmosphere of appreciation for mothers. In churches, in homes, in schools, and in workspaces, this day was celebrated as a big day. There was a video on social media where students helped the Women who prepared their food at the dining hall. On that day, they served other students, filling in on their duties. A simple card reminding them how important they are and a speech that tells the huge role they have played in life. These simple gestures show how love often exists outside of grand gestures.
The celebration of mothers on these days shows that motherhood is not a single day of celebration, but an ongoing relationship shaped by resilience, warmth, and quiet strength that binds families together. A mother is then the one who loves and cares; on this day, the world reciprocates their love. That is the quiet power of mothers.