Mothers Day is a special holiday in many parts of the world. Happening every year mainly in May, the holiday honours mothers as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. Celebrated across more than 46 countries of the world, the day is meant to express respect, honor, and love towards mothers; and to recognize the contribution of maternal bonds in society. Despite different countries marking the holiday on different dates, the common months of the celebration are March or May. This years Mothers Day will be celebrated on Sunday, May 10. Just like many other things that have been affected by COVID-19, Mothers Day celebrations may not be quite the same. Rwanda is currently on partial lockdown as the government looks to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Characterised by restricted movements, many people may miss out on the opportunity of visiting their mothers and celebrate together. However, there are a number of ways to mark the day. Some Rwandans that talked to The New Times concerning this year’s edition of Mothers Day said that although many things are not normal, there are ways to make meaning of the celebrations. “First of all, to me, Mothers Day is more about my mother - the woman who gave me life. I plan to call her first thing in the morning, said Lilliane Asiimwe, a resident of Kigali. She also reflected on how the crisis may be a blessing in disguise through which people will innovate new ways of celebrating their loved ones. “There is this friend of mine called Jael, she and her 8-year-old son created a bonding game for Mothers Day. Guess what? The game is composed of an empty box and toilet paper rolls…..but they will get to spend time together and bond,” she said. Being a mother herself, she said she will spend the day home with her little son, bathe him, dress him, feed him, and give him a haircut. Annet Cyatengwa, another Rwandan that talked to the New Times pointed revealed how her usual way of celebration has been affected. Due to the lock-down, she cannot go out of Kigali to check on her mother as she did in the past, but there is still a way to celebrate her. “Usually on Mothers Day, I go to my mother’s house which happens to be in the Eastern province. But due to this COVID-19, I am not able to make it this time round. So what we will just do is that I will give her a phone call, appreciate her, send her some money for a treat,” she said. Ange Umulisa, an events host says she will think of something to do with her mother that does not involve going out in public. She reveals that she always gets something for her mother. “This year I am still thinking of what we can do, but considering that people are not encouraged to be in public gatherings and crowded places, I think we will have to do something low-key here at home. Maybe I will cook for her or something, still thinking about it,” she said. Umulisa says she doesn’t think that the day will not be so much affected by the crisis since the celebrations are about appreciation and acknowledgment for mothers, not a lot of extra things. “Being a mum you don’t need extra things to feel special. Just hearing from your loved ones, your children, your spouse - people in your life telling you that they appreciate what you do….. It is good enough personally,” she said. Jean-Nepo Nizeyimana, a resident of Kanyinya said that because of the financial difficulty, he will just call his mother and appreciate her. “I will give her a call, thank her and tell her that she is precious to me,” he said. The first Mother’s Day was celebrated in 1908 in the USA when a school teacher Anna Jarvis held a memorial service for her mother at a Methodist Church in West Virginia. Later, former US President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring the second Sunday in May as a national holiday that would be celebrated as Mother’s Day.
