Tafadzwa Zimoyo Lifestyle Writer
“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie,” one philosopher once highlighted
Tomorrow Zimbabwe joins the world in commemorating Mother’s Day.
It is not surprising that some people were not even aware of this event. Just like Christmas season or other significant festivities, some shops would have taken this as a commercial opportunity and decorated their windows.
Isn’t Mother’s Day more important than Christmas Day? We wonder.
It is true that having a mother is so precious that everyone under the sun craves for because even those who feel they are treated as outcasts on earth are at least proud to have someone who showed them love by looking after them when they were still young.
Most people adore and are so passionate about the special day that was set aside for mothers by a concerned somebody who could not have ever thought deeply of mothers.
However, some were of the opinion that celebrating them once a year certainly is not enough as the day is something to constantly celebrate, but what is it exactly.
It’s a celebration of those who took care of us while we were growing up — celebration of life and true labour — and the meaning of sacrificing one’s time and energy for another human being.
Saturday Lifestyle conducted a survey to check on what the public understands about the day? Is it a borrowed phenomenon or are people ignorant about it.
“Mother’s Day is a day to thank my mother for all that she did for me since I couldn’t do anything as a kid. I don’t have anything to give her but I am sure she will feel special with what I will tell her,” said Maureen Shamu, a receptionist at a local firm.
Former top model cum designer Trish Carmen said the day was important because she appreciates the role played by her mother.
“Unfortunately my mother is late but the day is special to me because I am a mother too. We are what we are because of our mothers. It is the day when we show appreciation to our mothers for the work they do or did in raising us. I also expect my children to show their love for what I as their mother, do for them,” she said.
She added that it was a universal idea for humans to pay tribute to mothers.
Pardon Penga-penga of Chitungwiza said he has a strong bond with his mother because she was his pillar of strength.
“Sometimes my mother would beat me up while growing up but it was for a good cause. I want to buy her a very big present that nobody has ever given her because she moulded me into what I am today,” he said.
Multichoice Zimbabwe publicist Liz Dziva supported the notion that the day should be well remembered.
“Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring motherhood. I always get my mum what she loves most on this day especially flowers and chocolates,” she said.
However some people said they were not well versed with the concept of the day because they never celebrated the day to honour their mothers.
“I really don’t know much about the day. Besides it’s not our culture and why is it not a holiday if it is that important. After all it does not solve the problems on what it really is?” said Zvikomborero Mubayo, (27) a barber in CBD.
Another Harare resident Maxwell Nkomo (35), said though the day is celebrated in different forms, mothers in Zimbabwe do not seem to know its origins, as the concept was never introduced to them properly.
Nkomo, who is unemployed said that responsible authorities should educate people about the day if it is that important.
“For us who grew up in the rural areas we really don’t understand the concept. I have grown to know it through the newspapers and all I can say is that the day is for women but I don’t care,” added Nkomo. Most mothers said they were expecting a little something from their children since it was their day.
“I think with children of nowadays who are technologically advanced something nice should happen. I expect my kids to observe the day though they are not yet working but even if they clean up the whole house, do some cooking and before anything they just say mum I love you, definitely it means a lot to me,” said Tsitsi Mutasa of Haig Park.
She said gifts should come from the heart.
Some of the mothers interviewed said they knew about the day but never celebrated it resulting in them ignoring its significance as well.
“It is very wasteful especially if some mothers do not know anything about it. I can say the day is a gimmick set by rich people to splash out their money on unnecessary expenses. What about the poor? Love has no boundaries remember,” said one local musician who didn’t want to be identified.
Leading retailers in Harare such as Bells Florists and others have ordered large quantities of gifts for their customers. It is not about the material things, but words to tell mothers how much they are loved.
“We have a variety of gifts in stock. I can confirm that some have already started ordering their gifts for mothers. Surprisingly most people are women who are coming to buy gifts. I think we should appreciate our mothers in a stylish and different way,” said Thomas Banes from Sam Levy- a florist.
Trendy cheap gifts to treat your mother
Just in case some have been taken by surprise, here are few tips to do something special for your mum.
1. Bold Declaration of Mom Love – Tell your mom she’s loved yearly by creating handmade polymer clay pears — painted and finished off with a coat of high quality varnish for years of enjoyment. Mom can display them for all to see (her friends will be jealous) at home or at work.
2. Jewelry That Is Truly Addicting! — If you have money, why not opt to buy jewelry for her. Pearls are mum’s best friend.
3. Mum loves honey! — For the nature loving mom, best eco-friendly gift imaginable! Send honey straight from the hives to your mom all winter. By the way those flowers you are sending have an individual fragrance and distinctive taste. The pure, 100 percent natural honey is sent, straight from the hives, to mom throughout the winter.
4. The coziest and most beautiful blanket — It is winter time and if you want mum to keep talking about you everyday, buy her a cozy blanket that she can wrap around as a scarf or ‘chitenje’. Definitely she will make her friends feel jealous.
5. Do the cooking for her — It would be beautiful if you prepare dinner for her tomorrow night. Surprise her with your cooking skills. If you don’t know how to cook then make a plan and to make it great prepare her favourite dish.
History of Mother’s Day
One school of thought claims that this day emerged from a custom mother — worship in ancient Greece, which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of Greek gods. This festival was held around the Vernal Equinox around Asia Minor and eventually Rome itself from the Ides of March.
Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom and Ireland falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent (exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday).
It is believed to have originated from the 16th century Christian practice of visiting one’s mother church annually which meant that most mothers would be reunited with their children on this day.
In the United States, Mother’s Day was loosely inspired by the British day and was imported by social activist Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War.
Some suggest that it is a borrowed phenomenon as in many African countries, the idea of the day has its origins in copying the British concept. Although there are many festivals and events celebrating the day within the many diverse cultures on the African continent that have been there centuries before the colonials arrived.
In most of East Asia, Mother’s Day is a heavily marketed and commercialised concept.