Another day under Covid-19 level three lockdown. Mother's Day has passed for many unnoticed, untouched with normal routines - phone calls the only contact. The exception being the families noticeable around town who ignored the travel guideline rules and decreed that it was essential to travel out of town and region! Oh well, let it be recorded that there is the majority who have adhered strictly to the 'stay home' pleas, but there are a minority who still don't think rules apply to them.
A visit to the local cemetery is a routine that many families follow on an occasion such as Mother's Day, loaded with flowers and memories.
A visit to Totara Cemetery wasn't banned by our local council, but the gates were closed, requiring a long walk for some (depending on the location of their families plots).
Above: Entrance to the Totara Cemetery.
Below: The sign restricting vehicle access.
Above: Garden of Memories - the gardens are looking glorious at present.
Below: the RSA lawn cemetery plots.
Remembering all the babies only lent for a short precious time, and their mother's.
It was eerily quiet, on a day that is usually so busy - this is covid-19 affecting our lives as we strive to fight and eliminate the virus.
Mother's Day in New Zealand
There are different theories on how this started in New Zealand, but in a non-commercial way the day has been celebrated from Roman times.
A search of our local newspaper the Thames Star, shows many examples of commemorations over the years.
In 1927, two churches at Thames held Mother's Day services (Methodist and Church of Christ). Various churches continued to advertise these 'special' services over the decades.
Thames shops were filled with Mother's Day gifts in 1930.
By 1938, shops like A Court & Son had large advertisements to tempt buyers in time of Mother's Day.
Thankfully I checked both results, because the latter search word revealed this gem from the Thames Star Editor in 1911. A fitting end to our Mother's day thoughts for 2020.
The column is shown below, the text reads:
The Thames Star. Resurrexi. MONDAY, MAY 22, 1911. EDITORIAL.
MOTHERS' DAY. It is a trite saying that not nation is greater than its mothers. And a nation of good mothers is a great nation. It was a happy thought that led to the setting apart of a special day in the year in remembrance of this fact. It was first introduced into Australia last year, and wherever observed it proved of great and lasting value. In a little brochure issued by the Young Men's Christian Association in connection with this movement, the following passage occurs: "True motherhood evokes the homage of every clime, country, class, creed, and its worldwide honouring will light the flame of brotherhood in stranger and in foe. Honour your mother —or her memory—-through some distinct act of kindness a visit, a letter. Live the day as your mother would have you live it. Have her as your guest of honour. Write her a fetter of praise and gratitude. If she be not living, in glad recognition of her work, gladden the heart of some other mother. Stamp the day with kindness. We shall wear a white flower in our buttonhole on Sunday, preferably a white carnation—it is Mothers' Day special flower. Its whiteness stands for purity, its form for beauty, its fragrance for love, its wide fields of growth for charity, its lasting qualities for faithfulness."
