Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. While it's observed on different dates around the world, the sentiment remains the same: to express gratitude and love for the maternal figures in our lives.
Historical Origins
Mother's Day as we know it in the United States began in the early 20th century. Anna Jarvis is credited with founding the modern American version of Mother's Day when she held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, in 1908. Her campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday succeeded when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 designating the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.
However, the concept of honoring motherhood has much deeper roots. Ancient Greeks and Romans held festivals in honor of mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. The early Christian festival known as "Mothering Sunday" was a major tradition in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, falling on the fourth Sunday in Lent, when people would return to their "mother church" for a special service.
Traditions in the United States
In the United States, Mother's Day traditions typically include:
- Giving cards, flowers (particularly carnations, which were Anna Jarvis's mother's favorite flower)
- Serving breakfast in bed
- Giving gifts like jewelry, clothing, or spa treatments
- Taking mothers out for meals at restaurants (making Mother's Day one of the busiest restaurant days of the year)
- Making phone calls to mothers who live far away
- Spending quality time together as a family
Mother's Day Around the World
Mother's Day is celebrated in various ways across different countries and cultures:
United Kingdom: The UK celebrates "Mothering Sunday" on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Historically, it was a day when children who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.
Mexico: "Día de las Madres" is celebrated on May 10th regardless of the day of the week. The celebration often includes a morning serenade to mothers with the song "Las Mañanitas" and a family meal.
Ethiopia: Mothers are celebrated as part of a three-day Antrosht festival, usually held in fall. Families gather for a large meal and daughters bring vegetables, cheese, and butter while sons bring meat.
Japan: "Haha no Hi" is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Children traditionally give their mothers red carnations or roses and prepare dishes that their mothers taught them to cook.
India: "Matru Divas" is a relatively new addition to Indian culture, celebrated on the second Sunday in May in a manner similar to the United States, with cards, gifts, and meals.
France: "Fête des Mères" is celebrated on the last Sunday in May (or first Sunday of June if Pentecost falls on that day). Families typically give flowers, cards, and cakes.
Thailand: Mother's Day is celebrated on August 12th, the birthday of Queen Sirikit, who is regarded as the mother of all Thai people. Jasmine flowers are a traditional gift.
Brazil: "Dia das Mães" is celebrated on the second Sunday of May with large family gatherings and special church services.
The Evolution of Mother's Day
Interestingly, Anna Jarvis, who fought so hard to establish Mother's Day, eventually became disillusioned with its commercialization. By the 1920s, she was openly speaking out against the holiday's transformation into a gift-buying occasion and even lobbied to have it removed from the calendar.
Today, Mother's Day continues to evolve. In many countries, it has expanded to celebrate all forms of motherhood and maternal figures, including stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers, and other women who play maternal roles in children's lives.
Whether through elaborate celebrations or simple gestures of appreciation, Mother's Day serves as a reminder to honor and recognize the invaluable contributions mothers make to our families, communities, and societies around the world.