Entering Pickering Museum Village is like stepping through time.

Honour Mother with a Tea Luncheon at Pickering Museum Village

Tickets only $20.00 each.

Reserve a table at the Pickering Museum Village for one of two seatings for tea on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 9, 2010.

Tea at the Museum Village will include a selection of sandwiches, sweets, and tea or lemonade.  The Mother’s Day Tea offers a 12:00 pm and a 2:30 pm seating on.  Tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 905.683.8401, with a credit card ready.

The origins of our modern version of Mother’s Day go back to ancient civilizations.  The Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all had spring festivals to honour their most important “Mother Goddesses”.  In medieval Europe, the religious tradition of honouring the Virgin Mary on the fourth Sunday of Lent was later expanded to encompass all mothers.  Mothering Sunday in England was proclaimed in the sixteenth century, also on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and that tradition continues today.  Originally, the intent was for worshippers to travel to their “Mother Church” where they had been baptized; on that day, servants and other workers were permitted to travel to their birthplaces and thus might have the opportunity to visit with their grown children.

The Puritans who came from England in the late seventeenth century did not bring the Mothering Sunday tradition with them.  In North America, then, Mother’s Day was the result of tireless work by two American women.  Anna Reeves Jarvis created a Mother’s Friendship Day after the Civil War to promote reconciliation in families who had been estranged by ending up on opposite sides of the conflict, and later promoted the idea of an annual day honouring all mothers.  After her death, her daughter Anna continued to advocate a national Mother’s Day.  In 1870, Julia Ward Howe (author of the words to Battle Hymn of the Republic) began a campaign to establish Mother’s Day as a way to promote peace.  She had been so horrified by the carnage of the Civil War that she used the idea to rally women to protest against “sending the Sons of Mothers to kill the Sons of other Mothers”.  For about a decade, Howe’s day was observed in a number of U.S. cities, but eventually the event was abandoned.  Jarvis, on the other hand, continued her fight for Mother’s Day by lobbying politicians at every level.  By 1909, 46 American states had proclaimed Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May.  Canada proclaimed Mother’s Day in 1909, following the lead of the majority of American states who had already done so.  On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national day of observance in the United States, particularly to honour mothers who lost sons in war. 

Interestingly enough, Anna Jarvis became terribly disillusioned with the commercialization of Mother’s Day over the years.  She railed against greeting cards (“for those too lazy to write their own personal letter”), and in the 1930s she was arrested for civil disobedience during a protest.  Jarvis, who had no children, died blind and penniless, and was buried next to her mother.

Today, Mother’s Day is observed in most nations.  Dates and customs vary due to religious and cultural traditions, but mothers around the world are celebrated in unique and special ways.

Did You Know?

• According to restaurant industry statistics in North America, Mother’s Day is the single biggest dining-out day of the year.
• According to retail statistics in North America, Mother’s Day is the second-biggest shopping period of the year, exceeded only by Christmas.
• According to telephone company statistics in North America, Mother’s Day is the single biggest long-distance calling day of the year.

Pickering Museum Village is located just south of Hwy #7, between Brock Road and Westney Road.  Come out and see what your community museum has to offer! 

"Wanted - William Lyon Mackenzie - One Thousand Pounds,
to any one who will apprehend, and deliver up to Justice, David Gibson - or samuel Lount - or Jesse Lloyd - or Silas fletcher - and the same reward and a free pardon will be given to any of their accomplices who will render this public service, exept he or they shall have committed, in his own person, the crime of Murder or Arson.

And all, but the leaders above-named, who have been seduced to join in this unnatural Rebellion, are hereby called to return to their duty to their sovereign - to obey the Laws - and to live henceforward as good and faithful Subjects - and they will find the Government of their Queen as indulgent as it is just.

God Save the Queen, Thursday, 3 o'clock, P.M. 7th Dec., 1837
The Party of Rebels, under their Chief Leaders is wholly dispersed, and flying before the Loyal Militia. The only thing that remains to be done, is to find them, and arrest them."

-A Wanted Poster on the blacksmith's shop at Pickering Museum Village

Scenes of yeasteryear abound at Pickering Museum Village. A living museum setting which holds events that expose young people and adults alike to the way things were done in the 'old days'.

Read more about 'Steam Days'.

Pickering Museum Village is a replica of an early Canadian Settlers village, a great place to see while on vacation in Durham Region. The village is complete with a blacksmith’s forge, old fashioned shops, a church, log cabins and old homes. Set in the picturesque countryside just north of the city of Pickering the village is a must see when planning your vacation in Durham Region, Ontario Canada. As well as being a tourist attraction, the pioneer village is sure to delight your out of town guests or why not plan to take your family and wander through the paths of yesteryear. Seasonal passes are available.

Many events are held at Pickering Museum Village throughout the summer and fall. Costumed tour guides are ready to help you experience days of old.

Be sure and visit us soon, we'll light a fire and make everything cozy just for you!

For more information about events and rates see Pickering Museum Village website.