With my mother living on a separate continent, a little over seven thousand miles away, the vibrant Yaletown evenings seem a little less spirited to me. I miss her as much as I missed her years ago when I set out to live in a different country. The connection between a mother and a child cannot be undone and even if a mother has not become a mother through birth, the connection is cosmic. Video chats don’t make you miss her less and, being sick without her close by makes you feel like a giant baby.
Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, whose mother had organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health, started Mother’s Day on May 12, 1907. She held a memorial service at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1914, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday. Mother’s Day is always celebrated on May 10th in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. In Mexico, “El Día de la Madre” is a significant annual celebration that honors mothers, but also the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico’s spiritual mother, which is as much loved and revered as other mothers. In Argentina, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of October. In Bolivia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 27th and commemorates the Battle of La Coronilla in which women participated to defend their children. In Canada, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, which in 2021 falls on May 9th.
Veronica, who has moved to Vancouver from Guanajuato, says, ”Every day when I get home from work, as the sun sets, my heart sinks a little as I know my mother will not be at my apartment to give me a tight hug.” Antonio, who will be away from his mother for Mother’s Day for the first time this year, says, ”Mother’s Day without your mother is so bad. I wish I could give her a bouquet of plumerias and serenade her with Las Mañanitas. Maybe, next year we will celebrate together.”
As we walk with other masked faces across crowded streets, we can still celebrate Mother’s Day in many ways. We can still mark the day while respecting COVID-19 guidelines.
a) If you are lucky enough to have your mother close by, you can pack a picnic and invite her to a park, staying within your local area.
b) If she is miles away, visiting may not be an option, but you can set up a Zoom or Facetime call and share a meal together online.
c) Creativity and thoughtfulness are important, book her a fitness class or buy her a subscription to an app, a magazine or an audiobook service.
d) Get her a gorgeous bouquet of sustainable flowers from the Kitsilano based company ‘Leis de Buds’ [click here]
e) For new mothers, gift hampers from ‘Mama Bear’ [click here] would mean a lot.
f) Treat your mother to dinner or lunch at one of the patios in Vancouver. There are plenty of choices: ‘Honey salt’ [click here],’Victor’ [click here] or ‘Glowbal’ [click here]. The Spanish Coffee at ‘Glowbal’ is so indulgent!
g) Make her day sparkle with personalized and expertly crafted jewellery. It could be a necklace, a bracelet or even a ring. Just don’t forget to add a mother’s day card with a thoughtful message!
Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate all those empowering figures whose love has been unquestioning and unlimited. The pandemic has struck fear into our hearts, but a mother has none when it comes to love and acceptance.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Bartika Dutta
