Motherless Day

Question: Why did Japan once ban Mother's Day, the words for "pocket" and "brassiere", and jazz?

Answer: Nationalism during World War II.

Mother’s Day is not just an American holiday, of course. While different cultures may celebrate in different ways, much of the world has set aside a special day to recognize mothers and motherhood in one form or another. In contemporary Japan, Mother’s Day—called Haha no Hi—takes place each year on the second Sunday in May, just like in the United States.

But there was a time when celebrating this cherished tradition was forbidden in Japan.

The actual origins of Mother’s Day in Japan are a bit murky. Some say it was Christian missionaries who first introduced the tradition to Japan in 1913. Others say it began on March 6, 1931, the birthday of Empress Kojun, who was the mother of the then Emperor Akihito. What is not in dispute, however, is that the Japanese government considered Mother’s Day at least partially influenced by Western cultural traditions—because during Japan’s build-up to World War II, it was one of the first things to go.

The reason for this was that all Western influences were viewed as potentially destabilizing and undermining Japan’s focus on national unity—and Japan needed the populace to remain focused on the sacrifice that would be required of them all. Whether it made sense or not, the elimination of Mother’s Day became part of the larger push towards nationalism and a return to traditional Japanese culture during the war years. American films and music were banned as well—especially American jazz, which was labeled "enemy music."

But the Japanese government didn’t stop there. Many English words had crept into the Japanese language over the years, so in an attempt to expunge all traces of the "American enemy" from Japanese society, the government substituted English-influenced words like poketto (pocket) for mono-ire (place where you put things), and burazzieru (brassiere) for chichi-osae (breast suppressor). At the ballpark, terms like sutoraiki (strike) now became honkyu (center ball) and hitto-andu-rannu (can you figure that one out?) was now kyōsōda (compete, run, and hit).

The government’s propaganda efforts ultimately failed, of course. Following Japan’s surrender and before the conclusion of the American occupation, Mother’s Day was revived in Japan. But instead of being celebrated on March 6, the holiday was moved to the second Sunday in May, to align with the United States and many other countries.

Mother’s Day in the U.S. vs. Haha no Hi in Japan

When Mother’s Day returned to Japan in 1949, the initial focus was more of a day to comfort the mothers who had lost children in the war. These days, there really are no major differences between Mother’s Day celebrations in the United States and Japan—but there are some. While flowers are a popular gift for mothers in both countries, red carnations are given to Japanese mothers, while no specific flower is associated with the holiday in the U.S. (just be sure not to arrive empty handed!)

Mother's Day in the United States is a broader celebration that doesn’t just express gratitude to one’s birth mother, but includes grandmothers, aunts, stepmothers, and pretty much all maternal figures in society. In Japan, the day is far more personal. It is only about the mother figure in the immediate family. There are no "Happy Mother’s Day!" greetings exchanged among friends, colleagues, and anyone else outside the immediate family. So, while equally special, Mother’s Day celebrations in America are more public and in Japan are more private. But what about everywhere else in the world? And where did the idea of a day to celebrate and honor mothers come from anyway?

Not all mothers are saints, but her day has saintly roots

What we think of as "Mother’s Day" is actually a very modern concept. Societies going back to antiquity did celebrate motherhood—but it was goddesses and symbols of motherhood they were celebrating rather than actual "mothers." The ancient Egyptians held an annual festival to honor the goddess Isis, widely considered the mother of the pharaohs. And in ancient Greece and Rome, festivals were held in honor of their mother goddesses, Rhea and Cybele.

In Europe during the Middle Ages, it became customary for people who had moved away from where they grew up to come back to visit their parish church or "mother church" on the fourth Sunday of the Christian festival of Lent. Known as Mothering Sunday in Britain, it developed into the custom of giving domestic servants the day off to visit their own mothers (a rare opportunity for whole families to gather during the year at the time). But Mothering Sunday is and was only associated with the "mother church" and not with individual mothers. Confusing as it may be, Mothering Sunday—which is often called Mother’s Day in the UK—has no connections with the American "Mother’s Day."

In any case, when the first English settlers came to America, Mothering Sunday didn’t make the trip. Fleeing England to practice a more conservative form of Christianity without persecution, they weren’t too concerned about carrying on any British traditions—secular or religious. Even Christmas and Easter were far more somber, no-frills occasions for the Puritans.

The seeds of Mother’s Day in America were planted during the Civil War. A woman named Ann Reeves Jarvis (known as "Mother Jarvis" in her parish church) helped start "Mother’s Day Work Clubs" to raise awareness of the poor health conditions in her local community. When the war ended, Jarvis organized "Mother’s Friendship Day" to promote reconciliation between the North and the South. Seeing how valiantly her mother fought to give women the recognition they deserved, Ann Jarvis’s daughter, Anna, made it her life’s mission to make "Mother’s Day" a national holiday. A public memorial Anna held for her mother in 1908 sparked the first widely recognized celebration of the holiday, which spread to 45 states by 1912. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it official—declaring Mother’s Day a national holiday to be celebrated every year on the second Sunday in May.

Be careful what you wish for

At least Anna Jarvis’s heart was in the right place. To help spread the word about the new Mother’s Day holiday, Jarvis enlisted the help of local businesses—a decision she would soon regret. She saw how florists, candy shops, card companies, and others started raising prices in anticipation of the big day. Mother’s Day was turning into a race for profits rather than the reverential family observance she had envisioned.

We can all appreciate the irony of what happened next. The woman who devoted her life to making Mother’s Day a national holiday then began lobbying the government to have the holiday removed from calendars. She also denounced the holiday and began campaigning against companies who were profiting from it. Imagine what she would have to say about Mother’s Day if she saw it now …

A few more fascinating Mother’s Day traditions around the world:

• Mother’s Day plus one—South Korea began celebrating a special day reserved for mothers in the 1930s. But in 1973, fathers were included too. Our only question is who’s supposed to make breakfast?


• At least it beats North Korea—Mom’s special day in North Korea is November 16, which commemorates a 1961 speech given by the country’s first leader Kim Il Sung called "The Duty of Mothers in the Education of Children."


• Mom, is that really you?—Nepal celebrates a festival rooted in ancient times called Matatirtha Aunsi, or "mother pilgrimage fortnight." Traditional gifts include money, flower necklaces, and fruits. Those who have lost their mothers give an offering of ceremonial grains, bathe at shrines, and gaze into holy water—in the hopes of seeing their mother’s reflection as well as their own.


• For those about to give birth, we salute you—Inspired by American soldiers during World War I, France began celebrating Mother’s Day in 1918 (La Fete de Meres became official in 1920). The initial focus was on the repopulation of the country due to the great losses from the war—mothers with four or five children were awarded a bronze medal; six or seven, a silver medal; and the gold was awarded to those with eight or more offspring (mon dieu!). Undoubtedly to the relief of many French women, the child-bearing tradition was dropped in 1945, and the holiday was replaced with the National Day of Mothers.


• Mama mia, who’s gonna make the pasta?!—Mother’s Day in Italy—La Festa della Mamma—is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Expressions of panic can be seen in the faces of Italy’s male population as Italian mothers are not allowed to do chores or cook on their special day.


• Who’s your mama—Thailand first began celebrating Mother’s Day in 1950. Initially, the celebration took place on April 15, but was moved to August 12 in 1976 to honor the birthday of Queen Sirikit, considered the mother of the nation. Children present their mothers with garlands of jasmine, a symbol of purity and love, and families often give alms to Buddhist monks, while candle-lighting ceremonies and fireworks honor the Queen. Schools throughout Thailand also hold a Mother’s Day ceremony where children kneel at their mother’s feet to thank her for all she has done for them ….
  
  This presented a problem for Chatchai "Sam" Panuthai, a single father from Kanchanaburi, Thailand, a few years ago. Not wanting his 3-year-old and 5-year-old sons to feel left out, he decided to put on a dress and join all the mothers at the school. The rest of the mothers loved his spirit and took photos with him and his two adorable boys—who were a bit confused as to why dad was wearing a dress.

Visit Japan on the second Sunday in May to experience (no-longer-banned) Haha no Hi during Japan’s Cultural Treasures.