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In Australia we celebrate Mother’s Day next Sunday, 9 May.

Motherhood is a very special relationship, rated more highly than most others because of the love, dedication and often sacrifice of mothers for their children. That is why Mother's Day is now celebrated across some 50 different countries of the world.

But not all on the same day. In the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, Ireland and Nigeria, Mother’s Day was celebrated on 14 March this year.

The UK Mother’s Day, often known as Mothering Sunday, is always held on the fourth Sunday of Lent. From the 1500s, this was the day Christians would visit their “mother church” – where they were baptised, or their local parish church, or their nearest cathedral (the mother church of their diocese).

In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother church, usually with their own mothers and other family members. It has morphed into a celebration of all mothers and grandmothers.

Other countries have their Mother’s Day at a different time from the UK. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany and Italy are among those that follow the United States, celebrating mums on the second Sunday in May.

The US tradition began with Miss Anna Jarvis, a Philadelphia schoolteacher. In 1907 she started a movement to set up a national Mother's Day in honour of her mother, Mrs Ann Jarvis. Mrs Jarvis had spent her life mobilising mothers to care for their children, and she wanted mothers' work to be recognised.

“I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers' day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it,” Mrs Jarvis said.

Miss Jarvis sought to fulfil her mother’s wish. She and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessmen, and politicians in their campaign to establish a national Mother's Day.

The first Mother's Day observance was a church service on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday of May. Anna handed out her mother's favourite flowers, white incarnations.

By 1911, Mother's Day had spread nationwide and was being celebrated in almost every US state. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in honour of mothers.

Over the years, Mother's Day became increasingly popular, and the current traditions of card and gift-giving increased. The blatant commercialisation angered Anna – she even began to campaign against the greed and profit motive that was demeaning her day of remembrance.

But Mother’s Day continues. Many Christian families ignore the commercialisation, making an effort to show their appreciation for their mums with a special visit, meal, or gift of flowers.

It is sad that the children’s charity Barnardos no longer recognises the unique contribution that mothers make to their families’ wellbeing, ditching the long-standing Mother of the Year award in February.

In this “woke” era, the word “mother” is becoming “politically incorrect”. Barnardos may not have wanted to offend “gestational parents”.

But FamilyVoice has gladly filled the gap. Keep watching this week for our announcement of the winners of our new awards – Mother of the Year, Young Mother of the Year, and Grandmother of the Year.

And remember the first Commandment with a promise:

“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12

Peter Downie - National Director

FamilyVoice Australia