History of Mother’s Day in Australia It’s the day when sons and daughters across the land give a little back to the women who bore them, birthed them, and raised them. When Is Mother’s Day? For decades now, the second Sunday in May has been set aside for Mums around Australia; but whilst you’re knocking up breakfast-in-bed, writing your card, or arranging the flowers, consider the history of this noble national day. How Old Is Mother’s Day? Honouring Mums is far from a modern phenomenon, and mothers have been thanked for thousands of years. However, Official Mother’s Day in Australia was first marked in 1924, and the occasion was far from the celebration we know today, as we will see. Where Did Mother’s Day Originate? Mother’s Day first began in the US, following the American Civil War. In 1870, Julia Ward Howe (best known for writing ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’) wrote ‘The Appeal To Womanhood Throughout The World’, later known as ‘The Mother’s Day Proclamation’. This was a reaction to the Civil War, and wars in Europe, calling for peace, and for women to prevent their sons from being taken as soldiers. Howe’s proposal that a Mother’s Day For Peace is celebrated every year did not gain traction, until 1908, when another woman named Anne Marie Jarvis held a church service in honour of her mother. She campaigned for a day specifically to honour women, and was successful in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson decreed that the second Sunday of May be devoted to American Mothers. Who Started Mother’s Day In Australia? A woman called Janet Heyden spearheaded efforts on these shores, initiating the tradition after visiting lonely and forgotten women in Newington State Hospital, Sydney. Many of these mothers had lost their sons and husbands to war, whilst other women had seen their hopes of becoming mothers disappear as a generation of young men was wiped out. Why Do We Give Gifts and Cards On Mother’s Day? During the early days, Heyden campaigned for local schools and businesses to write cards and donate gifts to the women, ensuring they had a day of remembrance. Of course, in contemporary times, we give gifts and cards to celebrate our mothers and remember everything they have done for us. Modern Mother’s Day These days, Mother’s Day is much more of a maternal celebration. At Liquor Loot, we reckon one of the best ways to honour your mum is with a brand new (or an old favourite) bottle of gin! To help you out, we’ve picked out ten of the best for the big day... Nosferatu Distillery Mandrake Cucumber and Mint Gin (700mL) The drink is infused with mandrake root that's long been associated with magic and mysticism. It gives the drink an earthy, slightly magical flavor that's perfectly balanced with the cool and refreshing cucumber and mint. The refreshing combination makes for a super tasty and unique gin experience! Get the drink Nosferatu Distillery Mandrake Cucumber and Mint Gin here. Forty Spotted Pinot Noir Gin (700mL) This gin is infused with Tassie Pinot Noir grapes, giving it a juicy and fragrant taste. They crush and juice the grapes before infusing them with their unique spirit that's made with native Aussie botanicals like Tasmanian Pepperberry. The result is a sweet and subtly spiced gin that's totally luscious. Pick up your luscious Forty Spotted Pinot Noir Gin here. Poor Toms Distillery Strawberry Gin (700mL) A pretty-in-pink gin from one of our favourite Sydney distilleries, Poor Toms. This bottling takes the distillery’s signature Sydney Dry (which already includes Strawberry Gum Leaf as a botanical) and infuses it with fresh strawberries. It all makes for this super-fruity juice, which is perfect for a relaxing Mother’s Day. You can grab Poor Toms Distillery Strawberry Gin right here in Liquor Loot. Sipsmith London Dry Gin (700mL) We couldn’t do a list of gins without including a classic London Dry from the city itself. Without Sipsmith, there’s a good chance the modern gin industry wouldn’t exist as it does today. The distillery actually managed to get British law changed, allowing their craft distilling revolution to flourish. The spirit itself is rich and intense with flavours of creamy juniper, citrus, and pressed orange blossom. Celebrate your Mum’s integrity and commitment with a gin that encapsulates those qualities. Buy Sipsmith London Dry here. Never Never Distilling Co. Southern Strength Gin (500mL) One of the most notable characteristics of this gin is that it packs quite a punch! With an alcohol content of 53%, this baby is not for the faint of heart. It's a bold and complex gin that'll hit you with flavors of citrus, spice, and juniper. So if you're looking for a gin that's strong and flavorful, this one might just be right up your alley. Buy the bottle Never Never Distilling Co. Southern Strength Gin without having to go to the physcial store. Archie Rose Distilling Co. Signature Dry Gin (700mL) Found just round the corner from Liquor Loot HQ, Archie Rose makes its home in Alexandria. The distillery prides itself on attention to detail, with each of the botanicals processed in an individual and unique way to ensure total extraction of all the delicate and nuanced flavours. The end result? A gin packed with heaps of zesty citrus, sweet herbs, and complex earthy spice. Archie Rose Signature Dry is a cosmopolitan, sophisticated gin, for the cosmopolitan, sophisticated mothers out there. You can treat Mum to a full bottle of Archie Rose Distilling Co. Signature Dry Gin here. Seppeltsfield Road Distillers Barossa Shiraz Gin (500mL) If you’ve ever caught up with your Mum over a glass of Aussie red, this is the gin for you (and her!) Following in the footsteps of Four Pillars distillery, Seppeltsfield Road has produced a Shiraz-infused gin that is a big, bold Barossa answer to Four Pillar’s cooler Yarra Valley rendition. This gin serves up tonnes of juicy red fruit flavours, alongside traditional gin botanicals and a little warming cinnamon spice. Mulled wine for the hotter months? Almost! Grab a bottle of Seppeltsfield Road Distillers Barossa Shiraz Gin here. Giniversity Botanical Gin (500mL) The gin is distilled with a blend of 12 native Australian botanicals, including lemon myrtle, sandalwood nuts, and bush tomato sourced from the Margaret River region in Western Australia. It has a distinctively Australian flavor that's sure to make you feel like you're sipping on a taste of the outback. Pick up your very own Giniversity Botanical Gin here. Forty Spotted Classic Release Gin (700mL) We love their gin so much that they had to go in twice. Another fantastic gin from the fine folks at Forty Spotted (also the people behind wonderful Lark whisky). This bottling puts Aussie botanicals at its core, with Tasmanian Pepperberry providing much of the flavour. Some lifting citrus, bright juniper and sweet floral notes provide roundness and complexity. Transport your Mum to the Tassie countryside with a full bottle of Forty Spotted Classic Release Gin here. Kangaroo Island Wild Gin What sets Kangaroo Island Wild Gin apart is that it's made with native Australian botanicals sourced from Kangaroo Island, giving it a unique flavor profile. It's also distilled with pure spring water from the island that adds to its distinct taste. Plus, the bottle design is pretty cool with a picture of a Kangaroo on it! Transport your mum to Kangaroo Island by getting the full bottle of Kangaroo Island Wild Gin here. Our Gin Packs for Mother's Day! Okay, we’re cheating a little here, but you’ll forgive us for wanting to include our curated gin-tasting packs compatible with our Mother's Day celebration. Our tasting packs are the perfect gift for any gin-loving Mum and are loaded with choices to make her day. Included in the selection are the Classic London Dry Gin Tasting Pack, Best of Australia Gin Tasting Pack, Gin Mystery Pack [5x30ml], and even a 24 Days of Gin pack that she can enjoy all year round. You can pick any of these depending on your mum's favourite gins or something you think she might really enjoy. Go ahead and make her day! Shipping For Mother’s Day Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in May. Of course, you want to make sure your gifts will make it in time, so be sure to consult our estimated shipping time-frames below. Sydney 2-4 working days Melbourne 3-10 working days Brisbane 3-10 working days Adelaide 4-10 working days Perth 10-18 working days Hobart 5-10 working days NB: these are typical time-frames only and are not guaranteed.