Celebrity Mums and the History of Mother's Day
As we lick the last of the Easter chocolate from our fingers, marketers begin to assault us with the next annual event on the commercial calendar - Mother's Day. Touted by many as just another Hallmark holiday, we unpick this celebration of maternal love and pay homage to the celebrity mums who have made us laugh, cry, squirm and envy in 2018.
Who started Mother's Day anyway?
While most ancient cultures around the world celebrated mothers as the givers of all life, the modern concept of celebrating Mother's Day grew out of calls for peace following the American Civil War in the 1860's. In 1870, American writer and women's rights activist, Julia Ward Howe, appealed to women to unite, proposing a 'Mother's Day for peace' be commemorated every year.
Mother's Day Phase 2: A mother's legacy
Although Julia has been credited with planting the Mother's Day seed, her labours only began to bear fruit in 1908, when another woman, Anna Marie Jarvis, held a memorial to honour the legacy of her mother. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist -- caring for wounded soldiers during the Civil War and creating mother's working groups to address public health issues. Anna campaigned to have a designated day to honour all mothers and was rewarded in 1914, when US president Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May to be an annual celebration of mothers everywhere, which we now know as Mother's Day.
Mother's Day Phase 3: Hallmark gets involved
It wasn't until the 1920's that the commercialisation of Mother's Day began, with card-giant Hallmark seizing the opportunity to capitalise on the sentimentality of the occasion. It was a few years later that Australians really embraced the idea of Mother's Day, following the losses of World War I, with so many mothers grieving the loss of their sons on the Western Front. The tradition continued and today, Mother's Day in Australia is a billion-dollar industry.
Mother's Day: the upside
Despite the obvious commercialisation of Mother's Day across the western world, it's not all bad news. Mother's Day is a time to celebrate, honour and acknowledge mums everywhere for the selfless dedication, love and spirit they show in nurturing the up and coming generations. Mother's Day has become a time for families to come together, connect and rejoice in their own unique traditions, expressing gratitude for the work of our mums every single day.
And the celebrity Mum awards go to, (drumroll)
Best Lookalike: Reese and Ava Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon's 17-year-old daughter, Ava, with ex-husband Ryan Phillipe puts a whole new meaning to the word doppelganger. There is no denying the genetic lineage of the aesthetically-blessed pair, with Ava being a dead ringer for her mum in her teenage years.
Most fashion-forward: Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice) and Harper Seven
With a wardrobe the envy of mortals around the globe, seven-year-old Harper Beckham is following in her fashionable mum's footsteps, appearing at A-List events in only the most stylish of ensembles.
Most lovable: Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson
What's not to love about this irrepressible duo? Whether they're stepping out on the red carpet, holidaying or promoting their latest film together, the perfect pair are all smiles, with a hint of cheeky to match.
Most notorious: Kris Jenner and the Kardashian clan
Unless you've been living under a rock in recent times, you can't escape the woman who made the term 'Momager' a thing. Kris Jenner and her offspring continue to dominate media around the globe, with no sign of their star power fading anytime soon.
Celebrating all kinds of mums
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