By Mary Torres, Special to the Star
Today is Mother’s Day, a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. Mother’s Day celebrations are said to date back to the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks in ancient times and are now celebrated in many countries around the world on different dates.
The history of the American celebration goes back to Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870 that called for an international Mother’s Day to celebrate peace and motherhood in America. In 1907 Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948), a schoolteacher in Philadelphia began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day in honor of her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis.
In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in honor of mothers.
In over a century since President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation making Mother’s Day a national holiday in 1914, there have been wars and depressions and political and economic situations, but in a world that has changed so quickly in recent weeks due to the COVID-19 crisis, Mother’s Day 2020 will take its place on the shortlist of most unusual second Sundays in May.
On this day, children of all ages traditionally expressed the love and respect they have for their mothers by giving them gifts, sending them flowers, taking them out to a favorite eatery, or treating them to something else special. In 2020, given the COVID-19 crisis, many of us are rethinking how to give extra recognition to moms, some of whom are in the high-risk age range.
If you have a mother, do your part this year from whatever social distance is required. You may have already done something special for her such as sending flowers or a plant for her garden or giving her a gift card for a favorite restaurant or a spa for future use. Most mothers would like to connect with their children and spend time with the family in any way possible, if not in person, then with a phone call or video chat.
For me, Mother’s Day is a time to be thankful for all the women in my life that I’m proud to call my friends. We all have special women in our lives. Maybe it’s your mother, grandmother, or aunt. Maybe it’s your dear friend or neighbor.
And on Mother’s Day, we honor the friendship and love they bring to our lives. Today, let your mother, or someone who has been like a mother to you, know how truly special she is! Happy Mother’s Day!
On another note, there are some venue openings to report:
The Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum, 2425 Boxwood St. has announced that the “Chisholm Trail” exhibit, originally scheduled for March 24 through May 10, has been extended to July 9 and is available for viewing during regular museum hours. For more information call 956-416-4901.
The Harlingen Public Library, 410 ‘76 Dr. re-opened on May 1 and is operating with health protocols in place for employees and with certain restrictions. The library is continuing many of its virtual programming. For more details visit the library’s Facebook page or www.harlingenlibrary.org.
The new Callandret Black History Museum 305 Doherty St, San Benito. (956) 245-3998, will re-open on Monday, May 11. The museum dedicated to the African American experience in San Benito is scheduled to be open on Mondays & Tuesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Although some of the Downtown District events such as Market Days, the Downtown Coffee and Art Night have been canceled until further notice, many of the shops and restaurants have reopened and are ready for your business.
