In the midst of spring, as a rose, Mother’s Day blooms. Occasion to celebrate a special figure, the day is celebrated in different ways according to cultures. We want to accompany you on a journey to discover this anniversary through musical, artistic and cinematographic suggestions to spend it together with adults and children.
Why, where and how to celebrate Mother’s Day
There Mother’s Day It is celebrated thanks to the initiative of the social activist Anna Jarvis who wanted her as a recurrence to celebrate her mother. Officially obtained recognition in the United States in 1914 by President Wilson. Anna lost her mother in 1905 and since then a struggle began to see the maternal figure recognized with a dedicated day. Once he achieved his goal he continued to fight against the marketing of the party.
You will wonder why the Second Sunday of May as a date to celebrate the anniversary. The motivation would seem symbolically connected to the spring period characterized by rebirth, awakening and therefore connected to motherhood. In fact, Mother’s Day has its roots in Roman celebrations dedicated to the goddess Rea, a symbol of the earth, nature, abundance and fertility. In the Catholic religion Maggio is also the month dedicated to the celebration of Mary, Mother of Jesus, with the recitation of the Rosary (literally a collection of roses).
However, the date is not universal. In Norway it is celebrated in February, in Argentina in October, in Russia and Serbia coincides with the International Women’s Day (8 March), while in France normally coincides with the last Sunday of May or the first of June.
The mode of celebrating mothers seems to be common in the different countries of the world. Tickets, gifts, small thoughts, flowers with the squad to make it the master, moments of family sharing with lunches or dinners. Public ceremonies with concerts or shows are also organized in some countries.
Mothers and children: psychological implications of the relationship
In the community of psychologists on the occasion of Mother’s Day, ironic cartoons turn that celebrate the main source of turnover. On the one hand, this anecdote underlines a series of prejudices and errors of psychology who have unjustly guilty the maternal figure, on the other the importance that the maternal relationship is for psychological development. Since conception and pregnancy, a somatic, psychic and emotional bond that has no equal. Also for this reason, although it is not the only one, the mother is often considered the main caregiver. He therefore plays a decisive role in the development of the attachment bond. Safe base and support for exploration, but also fundamental influence for the construction of one’s identity. Other important functions performed by the mother are those of listening, emotional tuning (see for example the works of Schore (2008)), cognitive stimulation. A reflection can be done on the question relating to gender roles. In fact, it is undeniable that there are specific expectations socially that often rigidly draw the profile of the woman-moamma. The ideal of woman who deals with children is in fact still particularly widespread and often influences the professional choices of women who want to become mothers (greater access to part -time jobs, greater risk of not seeing fixed -term contracts renewed, greater precariousness at an economic level). Politically it can certainly be done more to encourage the choice of parenting also through the extension of the possibility of accessing periods of leave for the fathers.
Author mother: when art celebrates mom
Some artistic suggestions from which to draw inspiration for a different and original mother’s day.
The notes of the mother, songs dedicated to mom
You are ready to take your mother by the hand and dance on the notes of:
- Long live mom: Edoardo Bennato makes us unleash making the angels on rock dance;
- Hello mom: the Jova of the beginning makes us unleash with a cheerful and fun rhythm;
- Mom: It takes a few more white hair to recognize the exciting song by Beniamino Gigli;
- The mothers of the world are all beautiful: “When a child tightened to the heart, they are the beauty of a deep good …” simply poetry the song of Latilla.
We must not forget that many songs in the history of rock are so beautiful thanks to the mother. You want some examples: Queen’s Bohemian Rapsody, Knocking on Heaven’s Door of Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man.
Mom on canvas, famous maternity themed paintings
Are you ready to organize a nice trip complete with entrance to the museums? Here are some suggestions to travel with the mother looking for masterpieces on canvas.
- First stop: Modern Art Gallery in Rome to admire Klimt’s “Three women’s age”, a delicate and affectionate embrace between mother and child who conveys security and serenity;
- Train for Florence: entrance to the Uffizi to admire a religious scene of rare emotional intensity in “La Madonna in Adoration” of Correggio;
- Flight to Paris: at the Orsay Museum to admire “Whistler’s mother” painted famous for having appeared in a film with MR. Bean;
- Wandering: Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Chagall and Warhol, in different eras, have dedicated a portrait to their mother. Picasso also dedicated the “maternity” painting of 1905 to the theme.
Ciak mom turns! 7 movies to see with your mother
Prepare the popcorn and sit on the sofa. Some suggestions to celebrate mom in front of the big or small screen:
- All about my mother: Almodovar (1999) explores the mother bond son;
- The boys are fine: Cholodenko (2010) takes us to a homogenitoric couple formed by two mothers;
- Bad Moms: 2016 film directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore who ironicly questioned the image of the perfect mother;
- But as he does everything: directed by McGrath the 2011 film speaks of the difficulty of a mother in balanced career and family.
If you are interested in animated films you cannot miss the following:
- Dumbo: 1941 cardboard that tells the unconditional love by Mrs. Jumbo;
- The Aristogatti: we are in 1970 when everyone wants to make jazz and a duchess mother, elegant and determined, defends her puppies;
- Ribelle (The Brave): 2012 film in which the relationship between Merida and her mother Elinor is central.
The most beautiful poems dedicated to mom
Finally, some suggestions for poetic verses to dedicate to mothers:
- “To my mother” Poetry by Edmondo de Amicis, a tribute full of affection and gratitude;
- “Supplica to my mother”: Pier Paolo Pasolini moves with his verses.
- “The mother”: Hugo’s verses represent a hymn to the maternal figure;
- “The hands of the mother”: delicate and deep verses those of Rainer Maria Rilke;
- “Letter to the mother” Text full of love of Sergej Esenin;
- “Mom”: Ada Negri embroiders a poetic portrait of the mother.
Some reading tips from the world of psychology
For a gift or for a personal reading we recommend the following books:
- “I do it for me. Being mothers without the myth of sacrifice”: Stefania Andreoli (2022) deals with the theme of social pressure on mothers who are pushed to always put the needs of the children first;
- “Birth of a mother”: Daniel N. Stern, Nadia Bruschweiler-Stetern, Alison Freeland (2021) deal with the psychological themes of motherhood;
- “The anger of mothers. Losing to find ourselves”: Alba Miracoli (2011) speaks to us of the normality of emotions such as anger or tiredness.
- “The hands of the mother. Desiderio, ghosts, inheritance of the maternal”: Recalcati (2015) is dedicated to the exploration of motherhood through cinematographic, literary, biblical and clinical examples.
- “And who helps mothers?” (2009): another text by Alba Miracoli who explores the theme also through the direct involvement of mothers in qualitative clinical research.
Happy reading.
Happy Mother’s Day
All that remains is to prepare tickets, buy flowers, book a good pizza or prepare a simple and housewife dinner. The important thing is to find time to dedicate a thought, a song, a poem to the mother, the only one who has the power to understand our emotional state from the way you respond to the intercom, the only one who worries even when we are no longer children. It is said that it is the first and last word that is pronounced in the course of existence. Sweets and loving, or severe and arcigne, mothers can represent a safe embrace in which to take refuge and the base from which to start for the flight of life. There is no pink without plug and in fact conflicts and misunderstandings characterize the relationship with the mother like all human relationships. Not perfect or heroic, but determined in dealing with offspring and career. Best wishes to all of them.
