They say God could not be everywhere and that's why he made mothers. While everyone pays lip service to how mothering is the most important job in the world, how many times do we actually thank mummy for all that she does for us? Hence we have Mother's Day today — to celebrate all things maternal.
Ancient Greece
Mothers have always been venerated in all cultures down the ages. In ancient Greece, they had a spring festival in honour of Rhea, Mother of the Gods. These days, the mums we celebrate are more akin to goddesses of glam who pop back to size zero after childbirth, juggle demanding careers with the demands of motherhood and make it all look so effortless.
Whether you are a yummy mummy or a slummy one who sports T-shirts stained with baby spit up and dark circles under her eyes (like most of us in the real world do), take the day off and revel in the joys of being a mum. Today tabloid! takes a look at some of the mums making waves around the world:|
Angelina Jolie: With baby No 5 on the way, she leads the pack when it comes to yummy mummies. Jolie and partner Brad Pitt are seldom seen in public without their brood: Maddox, 6, adopted from Cambodia and Pax, 4, adopted from Vietnam, Zahara, 3, adopted from Ethiopia, and their biological daughter Shiloh, 1, who will be joined by another daughter this summer.
Farah Khan: One of Bollywood's most successful female directors and choreographers, 38-year-old Farah Khan and her film editor husband Shirish Kunder recently became the proud parents of a set of triplets: a son and two daughters. She joked about naming the trio Om Shanti Om, after the superhit film she helmed last year.
Jennifer Lopez: After being married for more than three years, the 38-year-old actress-singer, now dubbed J Glow, and husband Marc Anthony recently became parents of twins — a girl and a boy named Emme and Max. They are Lopez's first. Her hubby, Latin music star Anthony, 39, has three children from previous relationships.
Hillary Clinton: Her campaign to become US President got a shot in the arm when Hillary was joined by 28-year-old daughter, Chelsea, in a move dubbed as a "mum strategy". Chelsea overcame her extreme media shyness and took a break from her job as hedge fund manager in NYC to be with her mother on the gruelling campaign trail.
Katie Holmes: The Hollywood star better known for being Tom Cruise's wife, says her life is all about her daughter Suri now. Katie is also stepmum to Tom's two adopted children, daughter Isabella, 15, and 13-year-old son Connor, with former wife Nicole Kidman.
History of mothering Sunday
Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40-day Christian period of fasting that ends with Easter) since the 17th century, Mothering Sunday honoured the mothers of England.
During this time many poor people worked as live-in servants for wealthy feudal lords.
On Mothering Sunday, they had the day off to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.
However, in the US and many countries around the world, it's the second Sunday in May that is celebrated as Mothers' Day. The modern version of Mothers' Day in the United States, was first observed in 1907.
