By Megan Jungwi

A  mother’s love knows no bounds - and Nabila Nazli’s story exemplifies the saying perfectly. In November 2006, Nabila’s New York apartment caught on fire. Inside the flaming apartment were Nabila’s five children - including her 4-week-old twin sons and her five year old daughter. She managed to save all five of her children while sustaining second degree burns to her own body.

As flames consumed Nabila’s apartment, neighbors raced to her aid but could not get into the building. Her second-story apartment window, 20 feet above the ground, made escape difficult. However, her neighbors did not give up on the family and were able to stretch out a quilt as a makeshift net in which to catch Nabila’s children. Four of the children safely dropped into the quilt and escaped the fire. Nabila dropped her month old twin boys into the net one by one; then helped her older children - aged four and ten - jump out of the window.

However, Nabila’s five year old daughter, Nimrah, was too afraid to jump. Ignoring the pleas of her neighbors, Nabila refused to leave her daughter behind. Closing the door to her bedroom, Nabila was able to keep the flames at bay a little longer. Firefighters eventually found the mother lying unconscious from smoke inhalation, cradling her also unconscious daughter. One firefighter handed Nimrah to a colleague to carry down the ladder at the window, while other firefighters carried Nabila down the stairs.

The fire burned quickly and was out within an hour. Nine firemen suffered minor injuries while taking the fire down. Nabila, however, suffered severe burns, requiring skin graft surgery and months of hospitalization. The apartment was decimated and few of their possessions made it through. Yet all of Nabila’s children survived - and that is what matters most to a mother. 

The movie Backdraft features firefighters in action.

By Megan Jungwi

Mary Thomas is best known for the success of her NBA playing son Isiah Thomas. However her real success was in raising nine children single handedly in one of the poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods of Chicago. She was relentless in protecting her children from the drugs, gangs and violence in the area.

As the 1989 movie A Mother’s Courage: The Mary Thomas Story (produced and directed by Lanai Chapman)  famously depicts, Mary Thomas did everything within her power to keep her children safe. One day, when her youngest child, Isiah, was 12 years old, members of the Vice Lords came to her home demanding her seven sons join their gang. Mary would have none of it and fetched her sawed-off shotgun from her bedroom. She successfully asked the gang to move along.

Mary Thomas was determined to provide her children with the best environment she could. Although her children sometimes had to sleep on the floor without food or heat, Mary Thomas knew there were worse places her children could go. At one time case workers attempted to move her family into a violent housing project. Bravely, Mary went to Mayor Richard Daley to complain and tell him that she wasn’t going to go.

Although three of Mary’s children eventually succumbed to crime, her two daughters and four of her boys turned out just fine. Her son Isiah Thomas became a famous NBA basketball player who paid college tuition for over 75 young people throughout his career. Upon retirement from basketball he continued to do charity work in anti-crime and anti-poverty programs. Isiah Thomas has given his mother credit for his success throughout his life and it is easy to see why. Mary Thomas’s story continues to be an inspiration for many mothers facing similar challenges. Quite often the most courageous mothers are those who do their best to protect their children with what little resources they have.

From the Back Court to the Front Office: The Isiah Thomas Story

By Megan Jungwi

Guatemala is a third world country holding some of the poorest women in Central America. Most Guatemalans live on $2.00 a day and women still suffer from gross inequalities. However, Mother’s Day is recognized in Guatemala and every year mothers throughout the country are celebrated by the nation.

In 1968 Guatemala’s Congress formally declared May 10^th as Mother’s Day. Decree 1794 stated that ‘the mother is the foundation of the family and from her come the morals and spiritual norms that extend to all civilized people’. The decree also explained that the purpose of Mother’s Day was to recognize the importance of mothers, ‘exalting her before the whole Republic, in order to strengthen in the conscience of Guatemalans her high spiritual significance…as a source of perpetual inspiration”. In addition to acknowledging the importance of mothers Congress also declared that mothers who work for the State and for certain companies would be able to take the day off with pay.

Today, many children also get time off from school in order to celebrate Mother’s Day and wish their mother a “Feliz día de las madres”. On Mother’s Day morning children wake up and go their mother’s room to give her gifts. Some families will visit grandmothers throughout the day, having breakfast with one and dinner with the other. Some families will invite many mothers to their home, play games, exchange gifts and give advice. 

Guatemala certainly took a step in the right direction in creating Mother’s Day and acknowledging the importance mothers play to society. However, many mothers are too worried about poverty, malnutrition, and the burdens of prejudice to be able to truly celebrate their day. Respect for women and mothers is still not as pervasive throughout Guatemalan society as it must be.

So on your Mother’s Day take a moment to reflect on the plight of Guatemalan women and other women throughout the world whose rights are still being compromised or denied.

“Feliz día de las madres”

By Megan Jungwi

From a “Western” point of view, Saudi Arabian women are not up to par with most of the world when it comes to women’s rights.  Yet, Mother’s Day is celebrated by many in Saudi Arabia as they profess a long tradition of respect for women.

Mother’s Day in Saudi Arabia is celebrated on March 21^st every year, although it is a celebration that is approached with mixed feelings.  On this day many Arabs give their mother gifts of flowers, gold, a card, or even just some kind words to demonstrate their love. However, while some in the country support the holiday others are opposed to setting aside a special day for such a celebration.

The predominant faith in Saudi Arabia is Islam and the people try their very best to adhere to Islam’s tenets. Islamic scholars all say that Islam teaches people to have the highest respect for their mothers. Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad once said that “paradise is at her feet”.

However, Sheikh Asem Al-Hakim, Imam of Jaafar Al-Tayyar Mosque , says that “Islam as a religion shows more respect and love for women and mothers than any other religion in the world”. Al-Hakim claims that celebrating Mother’s Day would not be celebrated by the Prophet Muhammad, nor is March 21^st a special day for Muslims or Arabs. Rather, celebrating the holiday is like imitating other cultures and religions.

The main issue is not whether women and mothers should be respected, but whether one day a year should be set aside for them. Many Arabs feel that it is important to be loyal and show respect to one’s parents everyday and  that  gifts can be given throughout the year. 

Although Arabs throughout the country have different feelings about Mother’s Day, many enjoy setting aside some time to celebrate their mothers wishing them “Eid omm sa’eed.”

Princess Sultana’s Daughters - A Shocking View Of The Joy And Pain Of Motherhood In The Veiled Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

By Megan Jungwi

The political map for where Yugoslavia once was can be confusing for someone who has not followed the area’s history. Currently countries in Europe’s Balkan Peninsula include: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Although the borders may have changed many people still celebrate mothers with old traditions while others have chosen a more modern holiday.

Traditionally Mother’s Day was tied to a series of holidays that celebrated the family. The three-day series starts three Sundays before Christmas with each day occurring on a Sunday. The series starts with ‘Dechivi Dan’ or (Children’s Day), followed by ‘Materitse’ (Mother’s Day), and ending with ‘Ochichi’ (Father’s Day).

Many Westerners may find the celebrations for Materitse suprising. On Mother’s Day, children would sneak into their parent’s bedroom, tie up their mother’s feet and shout ‘Mother’s Day, Mother’s Day, what will you pay to get away?’ The mother would then negotiate with her children giving them small treats so that they will release her. It’s likely the mother preferred Children’s Day when the parents tied the children up and received promises of good behavior.

Some countries, such as Serbia, still celebrate Mother’s Day as their predecessors did. However, many countries now celebrate their mothers on March 8th to coincide with International Women’s Day. Countries celebrating this dual holiday include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro. International Women’s Day was first celebrated in the USA in 1909 and was started in the former USSR by a feminist in 1965. Originally it was a day to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women. However, in many countries it lost its political flavor and simply became a day to celebrate women – including mothers. On this day, women and mothers are given flowers and small gifts. In Bosnia’s Saravejo there is a monument to mothers that many people visit and decorate with flowers. 

Whether the descendents of old Balkan countries are celebrating Materitse or International Women’s Day they can wish their mother a hearty Serbian “Dan Majki”.

By Megan Jungwi

In France, Mother’s Day, or Fête des Mères, is generally celebrated on the last Sunday in May. That is, unless Pentecost falls on this day, in which case Mother’s Day is moved to the first Sunday in June.

 Today, Mother’s Day in France is similar to a birthday celebration. The family gathers together for a good meal and a gift of cake is given to the mother. The cake is often in the shape of a bouquet of flowers. Other common gifts include candies, flowers, cards and perfumes. The children wish their mother a “Bonne fête des mamans.”

Some people attribute the origins of Mother’s Day in France to Napoleon Bonaparte who once said “The future of a child is the work of his mother”.

However, the first official Mother’s Day celebrations did not occur until after World War I – when the focus was on repopulating the country. In 1920 the government created the “National Day for Mothers of Large Families” with celebrations throughout the country. The name changed to “Mother’s Day” in 1928 and subsequently to “Mother’s Festival” in 1941.

During this time period between 1920 and 1941 over 30,000 mothers received bronze, silver, or gold medals based on the number of children they had, thus recognizing their service to the nation. Mothers with four or five children were awarded bronze medals, six or seven children earned a mother a silver medal, and gold medals were given to mothers of eight or more offspring. In 1941 the Vichy government began organizing “festivals of family culture” including a celebration in Reims under the patronage of the Chief of State, Maréchal Petain.

Today France no longer gives medals for large families. However, mothers are still celebrated – as they should be.

“Bonne fête des mamans!”

By Megan Jungwi

Mother’s Day in Thailand is celebrated every year on August 12 to coincide with the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The royal family in Thailand is treated with great respect, but the King and Queen are genuinely loved by the Thai people. The Queen, born in 1932, is known for her charitable work among the rural poor and is considered a mother to all Thai people.

In Thailand Mother’s Day is a national holiday where government buildings and many businesses will close for the day. Buildings such as schools, temples, shops, and homes are decorated with large displays of the Queen and portraits of the Queen are adorned with flowers. In the capital, Bangkok, the area around the Grand Palace is decorated with beautiful colored lights.

Thailand is a Buddhist country and many people will go to temple on this day to give food to the monks and to make merit. In civil administrations, employees will put on their most beautiful clothes and gather to listen to speeches and Buddhist sermons. At some schools mothers are invited to listen to their children wish them a “Sook san wan mae” and give little speeches of love and ‘wai’ at her feet. A ‘wai’ is a gesture of greeting and respect where the hands are clasped together and the head is bowed.

On Mother’s Day many people will also wear light blue shirts as blue is considered the Queen’s color. Each day of the week is assigned a color, the Queen was born on a Friday which is blue.

Mother’s Day was originally introduced to Thailand in 1950 by Premier General P. Pibulasongkram. At that time it was celebrated on April 15th. However, in 1976 the date was changed to coincide with Queen Sirikit’s birthday. It is difficult to say what will happen to Mother’s Day in the future. Even if Queen Sirikit should pass on she is greatly respected and it is doubtful as to whether the date would change again. Her husband King Bhumibol is the world’s longest reigning monarch having been on the throne since 1946. The couple is greatly revered and their respective days are celebrated by all Thais.