Happy Mother’s Day

Today is 31 May. In Haiti today, we celebrate our creole women, our mothers. Happy Mother’s Day. I celebrate mothers every day because, from my experience, I wonder if God is not a woman. After all, women can do so many things at the same time, just like God.

My mom Rosemene Ormelus, was born in Brigué village of Petit Goâve. She is a hard worker, a business woman, and she loves Brigué because the temperature there is better for her health than Boston, USA where she used to live. I miss her so much. I researched her family name, Ormelus, which occurs in Haiti 161 times, and only once in the Dominican Republic. There are similar spellings in Sweden, Norway, the US, Brazil, etc.

I did some research about the origins of Mother’s Day. I found that celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals to honour the mother goddesses Rhea (mother of Zeus) and Cybele. The modern Mother’s Day comes from the early Christian festival “Mothering Sunday.”

There are 100 quotes from the bible about mothers, including Isaiah 66:13 - As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Exodus 20:12- Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

We should also celebrate the mother of Petit Goâve, Adélina Soulouque née Elisabeth Anne Justine Lévêque, who was Empress Consort of Haiti (1849-1859) as the wife of Faustin I of Haiti.

I salute the women of Croix des Bossales (kwa bo sal) the largest market in Haiti. They are heroes to me, because they have strength of character to make a living in challenging situations.

My music composition called Respect for Creole Woman, celebrates mothers' and future mothers every day. Thank you specially to my mom and to all the women who have supported me. To the women in my family and to the women of Haiti, Happy Mother’s Day.