This year, Mother's Day is being celebrated on Sunday, 12 May. It is observed on the second Sunday of May every year, in honour of motherhood and to pay tribute to mothers all around the world. This year, Mother's Day is being celebrated on Sunday, 12 May. It is observed on the second Sunday of May every year, in honour of motherhood and to pay tribute to mothers all around the world. In India, it is marked by motherhood-centric discounts and offers from retailers and brands have become increasingly conscious about Mother's Day. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, celebrates it on the fourth Sunday of March, in memory of Mother Church on Christian Mothering Sunday, reports said. In Greece, the day is observed in honour of Jesus Christ being presented to the temple according to the Eastern Orthodox traditions. Arab countries observe Mother's Day on 21 March, which is the spring equinox. However, in ex-Communist countries, people celebrated only International Women's Day instead of Mother's Day. History of Mother's Day Writer Julia Ward Howe is credited with first thinking of the idea of Mother's Day in 1872. "Howe was a pacifist and saw the holiday as a chance to unite women and rally for peace. For several years, she held an annual Mother's Day meeting in Boston," CNN reported. However, an activist in West Virgina, Anna Jarvis came up with the model of Mother's Day that is celebrated today. In 1908, she campaigned for a national holiday in honour of her mother, who was a community health advocate. Her mother had made several efforts that addressed child rearing and public health issues at a community level, which is what Jarvis wanted to commemorate through the Mother's Day celebration. Even though the request was denied initially, by 1911, the whole United States started observing the holiday. "Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in the month of May as a national holiday to honour mothers in 1941," The Indian Express reported. Reportedly, Jarvis became "disillusioned" by the commercialisation of the occasion, and "regretted starting it", reports said.<doc-sep>Mother's Day 2019: Union Minister Smriti Irani shared a post on her mother and mother-in-law. Union Minister Smriti Irani shared two heartwarming posts on Mother's Day about her mother and her mother-in-law. She said her mother chose to live life on her own terms "even when it was most inconvenient". The first photo shows her mother sitting on her bed, rummaging through papers. Behind her is a wall with a white board on which telephone numbers of doctors for emergency are scribbled. The minister asked her mother why her own children's numbers were not listed on the board. This is what she said her mother told her: "She said Moms are the ones you fall back on in times of trouble and asked me to put her number on my emergency list instead". "Every Mom has a special power. Mine gave me wings to fly and the confidence that if anything ever goes wrong there is always Mom to help nurture me and put me back on my feet," Ms Irani wrote on Instagram. Her next photo was of her mother-in-law and her husband's family. Ms Irani said people often ask mistake her as her husband Zubin's elder sister as "they are barely 17 years apart in age". "She has been his anchor, his friend. She nags him, he troubles her back. She has fought the dreaded 'C' and survived. Some say she is my mother-in-law, but we call Mommmaaaaa," the minister wrote. In a reply, Ms Irani's husband said his mother is proud of her daughter-in-law. Smriti Irani and her husband often share pictures of them and their family on their Instagram pages. Recently, she shared her delight at her teenage children scoring well in the CBSE Class 10 and 12 exams.<doc-sep>Manushi Chillar, who was crowned Miss World in 2017, joined an array of stars who took to social media to wish their moms on Mother's Day. The beauty queen shared a video with her mother Dr Neelam Chhillar. In the video, Manushi is seen lifting her up in the air. She captioned it saying, "Instant mood lifter since 1997 I love you maa! You make me smile no matter what. #happymothersday @neelam_chhillar4153." Manushi brought the Miss World crown home after a wait of 17 years. At that time, Neelam talked about how proud she is of her daughter. In an interview with ANI, she said, "I was extremely happy for her. That feeling of sinking in took a lot of time." Talking about how well Manushi answered her questions at the pageant, she said, "Her greatness was visible in the way she gave me so much respect. But I feel that all the mothers do everything for the kids, so I have not done anything extra. I used to support her in everything since the beginning. I always gave her the assurance that whatever she wants to do, she can and we are always going be there for her." Manushi is now gearing up to make her Bollywood debut opposite Akshay Kumar. According to reports, Manushi and Akshay will come together for Prithviraj Chauhan biopic that will go on floors in the later half of the year. The film will be produced by Yash Raj Films. A source close to the development told an entertainment website, "Manushi will be making her big Bollywood debut opposite none other than Akshay Kumar. She has been signed on for the Prithviraj Chauhan biopic that is expected to go on floors sometime towards the later half of this year. Chandraprakash Dwivedi is directing the historical drama and YRF is producing it." The source added, "Manushi has shown a lot of promise from the time she became a national craze. She is not only pretty but a great performer, too. She will be essaying Sanyukta's role and will be romantically paired opposite Akshay. Aditya Chopra feels she has a good screen presence and has also got her on board as one of the talents under his banner." Also Read | Miss World Manushi Chhillar to make Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumar's Prithviraj Chauhan biopic? ALSO SEE | Manushi Chhillar is an ethereal princess in stunning ethnic ensembles from new photoshoot. See pics ALSO SEE | Manushi Chhillar sets Seychelles on fire in ravishing outfits for a photoshoot. See pics ALSO SEE | Miss World Manushi Chhillar is raising the heat in sexy sheer monokini on holiday. See pic<doc-sep>New moms need to know pamper themselves on this day. (Source: Getty Images) New moms need to know pamper themselves on this day. (Source: Getty Images) Mother’s Day 2019: If you’re a new mom, self-indulgence is hard to come by, with your newborn requiring constant care. Chances are you’re desperately craving sleep and a chance to perhaps go out with your partner or girlfriends. Make your first Mother’s Day a special occasion by doing these six things. 1. Take the day off Get out of those pajamas and allow your partner or friends to book you a nice dinner where you can indulge in your favourite dishes and let yourself feel special. You can ask a family member to take over baby duties. 2. Click pictures Get yourself a Polaroid camera or go ahead and book a photoshoot if you like, where you can pose with the baby and your partner. Dress up, pick out matching clothes for the baby and get a family shoot to remember. Also Read| Mother’s Day 2019: This Grammy nominated Indian singer’s latest album is inspired by her son 3. Buy yourself something nice How about some jewellery to mark your first Mother’s Day? You could engrave the special date with a message on the pendant, as a keepsake. You can also buy matching silver cutlery for the baby and you, inscribed with a loving message. Also Read| 7 great gifts that a new mother is sure to love 4. Take a nap A well-deserved nap is on top of any new mom’s list of priorities. Get out those scented candles, draw the curtains and drift into blissful sleep, while your partner looks after the baby. 5. Weekend getaway Didn’t have time for a babymoon? There’s no reason you can’t plan a vacation now, with or without the baby. Get away for some quality family time for a staycation at a city resort or elsewhere for an extended holiday. 6. Write a letter to your baby Your first Mother’s Day is special, so how about writing a note for your baby to reads when he or she grows up? It’ll be fun to read together years later.<doc-sep>
Mother's Day was an eternal tribute to Anna Jarvis' mother after her death in 1905. Mother's Day is celebrated across the world on second Sunday of May. This year, it falls on May 12 to honour and celebrate mothers. Here's the story on how Mother's Day came into existence. The woman behind Mother's Day was Anna Jarvis, a US school teacher. While she is celebrated as the founder of Mother's Day, she died protesting it after the day became extremely commercialised. Anna Jarvis was pained by the fact that children had no time to prepare cards or write for their mothers and were instead gifting printed cards, making it a commercial event. How Mother's Day came into existence Mother's Day was an eternal tribute to Anna Jarvis' mother after her death in 1905. On the second death anniversary of her mother, Anna Jarvis bought 500 white carnations for a memorial service she organised in her West Virginia hometown. She campaigned to make Mother's Day a recognised holiday in the United States after her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist, died in 1905. Ann Jarvis cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address people's health issues. To honor her mother by continuing the work she started, she campaigned to set aside a day to honor all the mothers as she believed a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world". Former US President Woodrow Wilson in 1914 signed a proclamation and designated Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honour mothers. This is how Mother's Day came into existence. Many, however, started to feel that this day has become commercialized, including the Mother's Day founder Anna Jarvis. Protests around Mother's Day commercialization By the early 1920s, the card companies started selling Mother's Day cards. Anna Jarvis believed that this exploited the idea of Mother's Day. "A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother-and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment," she had said. After the commercialization of the day, Anna Jarvis organised boycotts of Mother's Day, and threatened to issue lawsuits against the companies involved. She also protested against this at various public meetings. While others profited from the day, Anna Jarvis' efforts to hold on to the original meaning of the day led to her own economic hardship. Her committee supported her and helped to continue her movement during her declining health. She died on November 24, 1948.