MOTHER'S DAY

Oktave celebrate Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It complements similar celebrations honouring family members, such as Father's Day.

In what we believe to be the first time in Sri Lanka, the Cathedral Choir, Oktave, the Congregation Choir, Melanie Bibile, the de Lanerolle Brothers, Neranjan de Silva, and the Congregation Choir will come together to celebrate Mother's Day with soul stirring music, and a thought provoking message from Rev. Roshan Mendis, at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, on May 8, 2016 at 6.30 p.m. Even though this celebration will take the form of a Christian Service, there are no barriers for participation of other faiths and religious beliefs. There will be a time to gift your mother who is with you, a flower; as much as there will be a time to light a candle in the memory of your mother who is no longer with you. To make it easier for you, flowers and candles will be available at the venue.

The story goes in 1912, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day". She specifically noted that "Mother's" should "be a singular possessive, for each family to honour its mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world.

In Sri Lanka, Mother's Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. Although relatively new to Sri Lanka, this occasion is now becoming more popular, and more people honour their mothers on this day. Taking your mother out to a meal, giving her flowers or a gift are some of the ways in which Mother's Day is celebrated in Sri Lanka. Online stores offer services to send mothers gifts, the hotels arrange special deals for Mothers Day dinners. But do we also spare a thought for our mothers who are no longer with us? Would we light a candle for them; would we say a prayer for them in thanksgiving of what they meant to us?

On the other side of the coin, what are the responsibilities of a mother? There is a famous quote by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis - "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much".