Mother Hens

'Twelve chicks, one cock...'

Holidays are about looking back and they often bring back memories of past holidays and time with family and friends.  Mother's Day in particular can be painful, especially for those who have lost their mothers.  It can also be difficult for those with strained relationships with their mothers, or who had mother's who weren't there to love, protect or care for them.

For a few years after my own mother died, I found the day painful, but now that a few years have passed, I find it a good way to honor her, and look back on how fortunate I was to have her in my life.  This year however, when I was thinking about mother's day, I was thinking about the limits on how mother's could celebrate their day up until the last few decades.

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. The modern precedent for Mother’s Day however, is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” 

Mothering Sunday was a major tradition in the United Kingdom and many other parts of Europe and usually fell on the forth Sunday of Lent.  It was originally seen as a time when the 'faithful' would return to for a special service at their 'mother church', the main church near the home where they grew up.

In America, Mother's day originated in 1907 after a woman named Anna Jarvis from Philadelphia, organized groups of women together to promote friendship and health.  Within five years virtually every state was observing the day, and in 1914 U.S. Pres. Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday. Canada, Australia and many other countries, followed suit, although many had their own traditions to honor mothers before the official holiday was set.

Who dat?

Not sure who the two models are in the above and below shots, but I wish could I find more!  If anyone knows who they are, ore what 'paint and sip' company they work for, let me know! 😊

Sadly, mothers didn't have that many options for celebrating in 1907.  There were no booze n' brush or paint and sips with nude men to enjoy and attempt to draw.  Yes, wealthy women could always pay for the service of a young stud, but most mother's were limited to some flowers, a homemade card or a special meal.

In the last few decades however, the options have opened up.  In addition to flowers, meals and candy, there are now drag brunches, hen parties, strip clubs and those paint and sip parties to assist a mother relieve their stress and get a few moments away from the family to enjoy their day.

Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, friends and cousins can gather for a paint and sip which can include a light meal, lots of wine and a hot, naked hunk to artistly ogle.  Sure, the finished paintings are fun, but it's the creative process of watching a handsome model expose both their body and their vulnerability for a mother's mirth and merriment. 

'Ain’t no party like a hen party!'