When And Why Do We Celebrate Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day is the day when celebrates maternity, maternal bonds, and mothers’ influence in society. The event is celebrating all over the world, but on different days. Let’s find out the dates and traditions of this special holiday together.
Mother’s Day in Italy
In Italy, Mother’s and Child’s National Day was celebrated on 24 December 1933 to reward the most prolific mothers in Italy. The date was chosen in connection with Christmas. Mother’s Day as it is intended today was born in the mid-fifties on two occasions, one linked to commercial promotion and the other on religious reasons. The first one goes back to 1956, when Raul Zaccari, senator and mayor of Bordighera (in Liguria), in collaboration with Giacomo Pallanca, took the initiative to celebrate Mother’s Day in the town at Teatro Zeni;
Later the celebration took place at the Palace of the Park. The second occasion dates back to the following year, on May 12, 1957, and was the protagonist of Don Otello Migliosi parish priest of Tordibetto in Assisi, Umbria. Don Migliosi wanted to celebrate the mother not in her own in her social or biological life but in her strong religious, Christian and interfaith value, or as a place of encounter and dialogue between various religious cults.
Since then, every year, the Tordibetto parish officially celebrates the Feast with important religious and cultural events. On December 18, 1958, Raul Zaccari presented a bill to the Senate of the Republic for the establishment of the Mother’s Day. The initiative triggered a debate, as some senators considered it inappropriate for such intimate feelings to be law-abiding by law.
The feast spread throughout Italy, and was celebrated on May 8; This date has remained unchanged from 1952 to 2000, the year when the holiday was first moved to the second Sunday of May, to be equated to the day chosen by the United States, and for economic and market reasons. On this occasion, children offer gifts to their mothers, drawings, flowers and crafts they make at school.
Mother’s Day in the World
Arab countries
Mother’s Day in most Arab countries is celebrated on March 21st. It was introduced in Egypt by journalist Mustafa Amin and was celebrated for the first time in 1956.
Argentine
Argentina celebrates Mother’s Day on the third Sunday of October. The feast was originally celebrated on October 11, the ancient liturgical date for the celebration of the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but after the Second Vatican Council, which moved the Virgin Mary’s feast to January 1, the Mother’s Day However, was celebrated on the third Sunday in October for the popular tradition.
Armenia
In Armenia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 8 and April 7 as the woman’s holiday and beauty.
Australia
In Australia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. The tradition of making gifts to mothers on Mother’s Day in Australia was started by Janet Heyden in 1924. He began the tradition during a visit to a patient at the Newington State Home for Women where he met many sun mothers And sad. To cheer up these women she visited the hospital from the kids in the schools who brought gifts to these moms and forgot. The year after this project was formalized and later the day was marketed. Usually in Australia mothers give chrysanthemum, as it is the season flower during May (Autumn in Australia) and since it ends in “mum” (chrysanthemum), a diminutive of mom in Australia. Men often wear a chrysanthemum in their lap to honor mothers.
Belarus
In Belarus, Mother’s Day is October 14th. The festival was officially established by the Belarusian government and was celebrated for the first time in 1996. On the same day, the celebration of the Virgin Mary is celebrated.
Belgium
In Belgium, Mother’s Day (Moederdag or Moederkesdag in Dutch and Fête des Mères in French) is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. In the week before this holiday, children at school make small gifts for their moms. Generally, your dad buys croissants and other sweets and brings them to mother while he is still in bed (to start a day full of attentions for mom). There are also many people who celebrate Mother’s Day on August 15; Especially the people of Antwerp, who consider that day (Assumption) the classic day of Mother’s Day and the feast of May an invention for commercial reasons.
Bolivia
In Bolivia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 27th. The El Día de la Madre Boliviana was approved on November 8, 1927, during the presidency of Hernando Siles Reyes. The date is reminiscent of the Battle of Coronilla, which took place on May 27, 1812, during the Bolivian War of Independence, in what is today the city of Cochabamba. In this battle, women who fought for independence in the country were killed by the Spanish army. It is not a public holiday, but all schools organize activities and parties.
Brazil
In Brazil, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. This holiday in Brazil was promoted by the Associação Cristã de Moços de Porto Alegre on 12 May 1918. In 1932, President Getúlio Vargas chose the second Sunday of May as the official date of Mother’s Day. In 1947, Archbishop Jaime de Barros Câmara, Cardinal Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, decided that this holiday would also be included in the official calendar of the Catholic church.
Canada
In Canada Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May (it’s not a public holiday), and usually flowers and sweet thoughts are given to moms, grandmothers and other important female figures of the family. A tradition in Canada is that Québécois men offer roses and other flowers to women.
China
Mother’s Day is becoming more and more popular in China and is celebrated here on the second Sunday of May too. Traditionally, they give away carnations. In 1997, Mother’s Day was set as the day to help poor mothers and to remember all poor mothers of rural areas. In recent years, Li Hanqiu has begun supporting the official adoption of Mother’s Day in memory of Meng Mu, Meng Zǐ’s mother.
North Korea
Mother’s Day, here, is celebrated on November 16 as a public holiday. The date takes its significance from the first national mothers’ meeting held in 1961, for which Kim Il-sung, leader of the country, published a work called The Duty of Mothers in Children’s Education. The date was designated as Mother’s Day in May 2012 by the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, but it has only become a public celebration and has appeared on the North Korean calendar since 2015.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, Mother’s Day is celebrated every second Sunday of May. It was started in former Czechoslovakia in 1923. The promoter of this celebration was Alice Masaryková. After the division of the country in 1993, the Czech Republic also began to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Egypt
The Mother’s Day in Egypt is celebrated on March 21, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It was introduced in Egypt by the journalist Mustafa Amin in the book “Smiling America” (1943). Amin heard the story of a widow mother who devoted her whole life to educating her son who then became a doctor. His son married and left his mother alone, without any gratitude. Listening to this story, Amin came up with the idea of promoting “Mother’s Day”. The idea was ridiculed by President Gamal Abdel Nasser, but he eventually accepted it and the mother’s day was celebrated on March 21, 1956. The practice has since been copied by other Arab countries. When Mustafa Amin was arrested and imprisoned, they were tempted to change the name of the celebration from “Mother’s Day” to “family celebration”, as the government wanted to stop people from remembering her founder. These attempts however failed.
Ethiopia
Mother’s Day is celebrated for three days in Ethiopia after the end of the rainy season. It coincides with the middle of autumn when people enjoy a three-day holiday called “Antrosht“. For the day, children carry the ingredients to make a traditional “hash” recipe. The girls carry spices, vegetables, cheese and butter while the kids bring a lamb or a bull. The mother shows the family the hash. The tradition says that after the meal mothers and daughters sleep with the butter on their face and chest. Men sing songs to honor their ancestors.
READ ALSO: FATHER’S DAY: ORIGINS AND TRADITIONS
Estonia
In Estonia, Mother’s Day (emadepäev in Estonian) is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. It is recognized at national level, but it is not a public holiday.
France
In France, due to a low birth rate, in 1896 and 1904, it was attempted to create a national celebration honoring mothers of large families. In 1918, also inspired by Jarvis, the city of Lyon wanted to celebrate a “journée des Mères”, but decided to celebrate a “Journée Nationale des Mère de familles nombreuses”. May 24, 1950, was counted as the official date of the “Fête des Mères” on the last Sunday of May (except when Pentecost fell on that day, in which case it was transferred to the first Sunday of June). During the 1950’s the celebration lost all its patriotic and natural ideologies and became a commercial festival.
Georgia
Georgia is celebrating Mother’s Day on March 3rd. It was decided by Georgia’s first president Zviad Gamsakhurdia to replace the International Women’s Day and was officially approved by the Supreme Council in 1991. Today Georgia celebrates both the Mother’s Day on March 3 and the International Women’s Day on March 8 .
Germany
In the 1920s, Germany also had a low birth rate. It was thought that this was due to the participation of women in the labor market. In 1923, to promote the maternal values they decided unanimously to celebrate the Muttertag, that is, Mother’s Day. The celebration, as in most European countries, is held on the second Sunday of May.
Hungary
In Hungary, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. It was celebrated for the first time in 1925 by the Croatian Youth of the Hungarian Red Cross
India
Mother’s Day in India is celebrated every second Sunday in May. The Indians do not regard it as a religious holiday.
Indonesia
The Indonesian Mother’s Day (Hari Ibu) is celebrated nationwide on December 22nd. The date was officially released by President Soekarno on the 25th anniversary of the Indonesian Women’s Congress of 1928. The day was initially celebrated by the Indonesian women’s spirit to improve the nation’s condition. Today, the meaning of Mother’s Day has changed and expresses love and gratitude to mothers. They give gifts to mothers (like flowers) and organize parties and contests by surprise.
Iran
In Iran, Mother’s Day is celebrated for the sixth month of the Islamic calendar (a lunar calendar) and every year the party falls on a different day of the Gregorian calendar. This date coincides with the birthday of Fatimah, the only daughter of Prophet Muhammad according to Islamic Shia orthodoxy. Mother’s Day was originally celebrated on December 16, but the date was changed after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The women’s party is celebrated on the same day as the Mother’s Day.
Israel
The Jewish people of Israel celebrated mothers for the first time on February 13, 1945. The celebration coincided with the Henrietta Szold’sdeath day (February 13, 1945). Henrietta, though not having biological children, was an exemplary mother, as with her organization “Youth Aliyah” she saved many Jewish children from Nazi Germany. He also supported the rights of minors. This day evolved over time, becoming a celebration of mutual love for the family, called family day (יוֹם הַמִשְּפָּחָה, yom hamishpacha). This holiday is mainly celebrated in kindergartens with activities to which parents are invited.
Japan
In Japan, Mother’s Day (母 の 日 Haha no Hi?) Was initially celebrated during the Shōwa period for Empress Kōjun’s birthday (Emperor Akihito’s mother) on March 6th. In 1949, the Japanese company adopted the second Sunday in May as the official date. Today, people generally give their mothers flowers like red carnations and roses.
Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan, Mother’s Day is celebrated every year on May 19th. The celebration was celebrated for the first time in 2012.
Latvia
Mother’s Day in Latvia was celebrated for the first time in 1922. Since 1934, the official date is the second Sunday of May.
Lithuania
In Lithuania, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May.
Maldives
In the Maldives, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 13. The day is celebrated in different ways. Kids make gifts and spend time with their mothers. The Maldives love this holiday, and have put it in their calendar.
Malta
The first reference to Mother’s Day in Malta occurred during children’s radio programs led by Frans H. Said in May 1961. Within a few years, Mother’s Day became one of the most popular dates of the Maltese calendar. In Malta, this day is commemorated on the second Sunday of May. Mothers always receive gifts and invitations for lunch.
Mexico
In Mexico, Álvaro Obregón’s government imported the mother’s holiday from the United States in 1922. In the mid-30s, Lázaro Cárdenas’s government promoted the party as a “patriotic festival”. Cárdenas’s government tried to use the party to emphasize the importance of families as a basis for national development. Today, the “Día de las Madres” sdi celebrates May 10th to show affection for her mother. It is tradition to start the celebration with the famous song “Las Mañanitas”.
Nepal
In Nepal there is a festivity equivalent to Mother’s Day, called Mata Tirtha Aunsi (“Mamma Pilgrimage New Moon”) or Mata Tirtha Puja (“Mother Pilgrimage”). It is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. It falls between April and May. This holiday celebrates all moms, and is celebrated by giving gifts and reminding moms who are no longer there.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, Mother’s Day was introduced in 1910. The Royal Dutch Society for Horticulture and Botany, a group that safeguards the interest of Dutch florists, has promoted the party, hoping to collect the florists’ success Americans. In 1931 or was adopted as the official celebration date on the second Sunday of May.
New Zeland
In New Zealand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, but it is not a public holiday. The tradition of New Zealand is to make gifts and bring breakfast in bed to mom.
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, the Día de la Madre was celebrated on May 30 from the early 1940s. The date was chosen by President Anastasio Somoza García because it was the birthday of Casimira Sacasa, his wife’s mother.
Norway
Mother’s Day was celebrated on 9 February 1919 and was initially organized by religious institutions. Later it became a day for the family. Mother on this special day receives gifts, flowers, pies and she is brought to breakfast. It has gradually become an important trade event. Primary schools often encourage children to make presents.
Pakistan
In Pakistan, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Multimedia channels celebrate with special shows. They give gifts to all moms. Schools are doing special activities to recognize the sacrifices of their mothers.
Panama
In Panama, Mother’s Day is celebrated on December 8, the same day as the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This date was suggested in 1930 by the wife of Panama President Florencio Harmodio Arosemen.
Paraguay
In Paraguay, Mother’s Day is celebrated on May 15, the same day as the Dia de la Patria, celebrating the independence of Paraguay. This date was chosen to honor the role played by Juana María de Lara in the events of 14 May 1811 leading to the independence of Paraguay
Philippines
In the Philippines, Mother’s Day is officially celebrated on the second Sunday of May, but it is not a public holiday.
Portugal
In Portugal, the “Dia da Mãe” (“Mother’s Day”) is an unofficial party held every year on the first Sunday of May (sometimes coinciding with the Labor Day). The weeks before this Sunday, children at school prepare a gift for their mothers, assisted by their teachers.
Romania
In Romania, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of May since 2010
Russia
Traditionally Russia celebrated the 8th of March both for women’s party and the Mother’s Day. Today is celebrated on the last Sunday of November.
Samoa
In Samoa, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May as a national holiday.
Singapore
In Singapore, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. It is not recognized, however, as a party by the government.
Slovakia
Czechoslovakia celebrates only the Women’s Day. After the division of the country in 1993, Slovakia began to celebrate both the Women’s Day and the Mother’s Day. At present, both days are festive, but are not “state holidays”. In the Slovak Republic, Mother’s Day is celebrated every second Sunday of May.
South Africa
In South Africa, Mother’s Day is celebrated on Sundays in May and is not a public holiday. The tradition is to make gifts and go to lunch together with your family.
Sudan
Here Mother’s Day is celebrated on the first Monday of July. Sudanese children bring gifts and flowers to their mothers. The first mother’s day took place on July 2, 2012.
Spain
In Spain, Mother’s Day or Día de la Madre is celebrated on the first Sunday of May. Children at school prepare a gift for their moms. It is also said that it is celebrated in May because May is the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary (mother of Jesus) according to Catholicism.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.
Sweden
Mother’s Day was celebrated for the first time in 1919, at the initiative of author Cecilia Bååth-Holmberg. It took several decades to be widely recognized. Mother’s Day in Sweden is celebrated on the last Sunday of May.
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the “règle de Pentecôte” law allows the Mother’s Day to be celebrated a week late if the party falls on the same day of Pentecost. In 2008 traders refused to move the date.
Taiwan
In Taiwan, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, coinciding with Buddha’s birthday and the traditional ceremony of “washing the Buddha.” In 1999, the Taiwanese government set up the second Sunday of May as Buddha’s birthday, so the Buddha’s party and Mother’s Day celebrated on the same day.
Thailand
The Mother’s Day in Thailand is celebrated on Queen’s Birthday of Thailand, Queen Sirikit (August 12). The celebration was celebrated for the first time in the 1980s as part of the Thai Prime Minister’s campaign Prem Tinsulanonda to promote the royal family of Thailand. Father’s Day is celebrated in King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday.
Ukraine
Ukraine celebrates Mother’s Day (Ukraine: День Матері) on the second Sunday in May. Here the mother’s day was officially formalized only in 1999 and has been celebrated since 2000.
UK
The UK celebrates Mother’s Day, the fourth Sunday of Lent (March 26, 2017). This day has religious roots. According to the tradition, gifts, such as sweets and flowers, are given to mothers.
United States
The United States celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. Here, Mother’s Day remains the most marketed. In fact, they sell many flowers, greeting cards, and gifts. Mother’s Day is also the largest party for long distance phone calls.
Happy Mother’s Day by Mash&Co Team!
