A few days ago I spoke with my mother about various things (including her most recent tea order) and asked her what she would like for Mother’s Day. Her immediate response was that she would love my company. Thus my current plan was formed: Saturday I will be baking cookies (snickerdoodles, her favorite) then Sunday morning I’ll snip some of the tulips from the front yard and drive to my parents’ to visit, cookies and flowers in tow. I’ll be sure to bring along my teapot, so together we can enjoy a pot of tea for Mother’s Day.
A holiday celebrated in many different countries around the world (and on many different days), Mother’s Day is for recognizing and appreciating the maternal bond. Per Wikipedia, Mother’s Day was started in the US in 1907 by peace activist Anna Jarvis, and was made an official national holiday in 1914. Mother’s Day has unfortunately become highly commercialized, and even Jarvis, the original creator, went on to protest the move away from hand-written letters and appreciation. It is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.
Mother’s Day is the busiest sales time of year for florists, but it’s also one of the most popular for local tea shops – especially ones that offer a British-style afternoon tea. (A few years ago, I took my mother to my favorite Portland dessert location—Pix Patisserie—for their Mother’s Day afternoon tea.) A quick search online finds many special tea events being held at local shops (all reservation-only, of course, and they often book up quite far in advance).
Of course, it’s always an option to have your own afternoon tea for Mother’s Day. There are endless possibilities: Everything from my plan of a simple get-together with homemade cookies and tea to something more elaborate with additional treats, decorations, and a larger guest list. (Last year we featured a few tips and suggestions in our article Mother’s Day Tea: Tips to Celebrate With the Women in Your Family.) And with modern technology, having tea together for Mother’s Day can even be done via video chat, with tea and treats to be had by all participants separately.
I’ll have to get back to you on how my plans go, but feel free to share about yours (current or past) in the comments. I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers (of every kind) out there!
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