The MAU Recipe for a Powerful, Exuberant Mother's Day Parade

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Let us solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace.

Mother’s Day Proclamation- 1870
Julia Ward Howe, attempting to contain her exuberance

The Mothers Acting Up (MAU), Mother’s Day Parades are inspired by the life, words and actions of Julia Ward Howe. In 1872 she called for a day when the world would honour what we mothers hold most dear: the lives of our children, of all children. The MAU Parades celebrate the vision that Julia Ward Howe spoke of 100 years ago: mothers everywhere rising up together around that which unites us rather than divides us.** The parades provide a forum for mothers* to express their personal commitment and invite their communities to join them in taking collective action. From there, the MAU Websites (www.mothersactingup.org/www.mothersactingup.org.uk) offer monthly actions to unite individuals into a political force to be reckoned with!

This is our recipe. All great cooks have their own style: some follow the recipe, some substitute different ingredients, some improvise completely. Use this Parade Packet however it suits you. Mother’s Day Parades are a wonderful way to mobilize your community because they are inspiring, easy to produce (the first parade team was 4 people), and the media LOVES the idea. And frankly, the best part is you get to dress up outlandishly and perhaps walk on stilts for the first time! Count on us to be with you every step of the way.

* mothers and others, on stilts and off, who exercise protective care over someone smaller
** For more about Julia’s life and words visit http://womenshistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa013100d.htm.