Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • May 4, 2011 Remember Mom on Mother’s Mother’s Day is supposed to be a happy occasion wherein individuals honor their mothers and other special women with gifts and tokens of appreciation. But for the men and women who have lost their mothers, this holiday can be everything from bittersweet to painful. Honoring Mom takes on new meaning. Any holiday can be particularly difficult to enjoy when a loved one passes away. However, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day -- dates on the calendar specific to a special person in one’s life -- can be even more trying, especially if the loss is still fresh. Individuals who have lost their mothers may experience Day! Sunday, May 8th Helpful tips for a Mother’s Day minus mom Mother’s Day in myriad ways. Some may choose to ignore the day, preferring to keep busy and not acknowledge that Mother’s Day is taking place. Others may pore over memories of their mother, looking at old photos or videos. Some may make a trip to a cemetery or special place of reflection. Certain people prefer to be alone, while others want to be in the comfort of a group. The way the holiday is spent is entirely up to the person and the way he or she feels the most comfortable. In fact, it can be downright challenging to wade through the rows of greeting cards at every store and watch scores of commercials on television reminding one to pick up ��������� ����� something special for one’s mother. If a person is looking for a way to celebrate Mom after she has passed on, here are a few ideas. Remember a good time had with Mom and then capture those happy feelings. Donate to a charity or do something special that Mom would have appreciated. Plant a tree or plant in her honor in the yard. Watch a video or look through pictures of Mom and remember all of the good times had together. If you are a mother, relish in the day with the kids and other family. Wear a white carnation to symbolize that you have lost your mother. Gather together with siblings or friends who have lost their mothers and spend the day together. ������������������������������������ ������������ ������������������������������������ ������������������������������� ������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������� �������������������������������� �������������� Remember Mom! �������������������������������������� ����������������������� �������������������� �������������������� ��������� ����� ������ ������ ������� ������������������� ��������������� ����������������� ��������������� ����������������������������� ���������������������������������� ����� ����������� ����������� ������ ������ ������������ ������������������� ��������� ������������ ������������������� ����������������������������� ������������������ ���������������� ����������������������������� ������������������ ���������������� ���������������� Every May, women around the world are celebrated for their sacrifices and contributions to the family. With all that Mom does for her children, it would seem like the concept of honoring her would be ages old. However, it really wasn’t until relatively recently that a celebration of mothers was instituted. In ancient Greece, individuals honored Rhea, mother of the gods. Christians also celebrate Mary, the mother of God. However, it wasn’t until the 1900s before the general mothering population was celebrated in earnest. Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis was a young Appalachian homemaker who, beginning in 1858, attempted to improve sanitation and nursing procedures through women’s clubs and what she called “Mothers Friendship Day.” It wasn’t Ann Marie, but rather her daughter, Anna Jarvis, who created the Mother’s Day that we celebrate today. Anna spent many years caring for her aging and ailing mother. Anne Marie died on May 9, 1905 and Anna missed her terribly. Anna noticed that many children failed to respect and honor their mothers while they were alive, and it wasn’t until after they died that these children recognized what they had lost in their parent. She intended to start a Mother’s Day to honor mothers. In 1907, Anna Jarvis attempted to establish Mother’s Day to “honor mothers, living and dead.” She started the campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. Together with her friends, Jarvis started a letter-writing campaign to urge ministers, businessmen, and congressmen to declare a national Mother’s Day holiday. Her efforts paid off. The first Mother’s Day was celebrated on May 10, 1908 and honored the late Anne Marie Reeves Jarvis. After this initial celebration, Mother’s Day caught on. The Mother’s Day International Association was established on Dec. 12, 1912, to promote and encourage meaningful observances of the event. On May 9, 1914, a presidential proclamation declared that every year the second Sunday in May would be observed as Mother’s Day. May celebration was initiated by Jarvis