In the United States the second Sunday in May is all about Mom. With breakfast in bed, handmade gifts, and a little time for special pampering, Mother’s Day is the day we celebrate mothers in the US. While many countries join us in the May celebration, there are also more traditional ways of acknowledging mothers around the world.
The American version of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official holiday in 1914. Oddly enough, Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and worked in her later years to have it removed from the calendar.
Other countries and cultures have their own unique celebrations to honor mothers. To add a special twist to this year’s celebration, see if you can adapt one of these international celebrations to your family’s Mother’s Day.
India: 10-Day Festival
While India does celebrate a westernized version of Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, Hindus traditionally celebrate the goddess Durga Puka, or Divine Mother, in October. Families spend weeks getting ready for the festival by preparing food, decorating their homes, and buying and making gifts. The celebration is both a religious ceremony and a time for family reunions and gatherings.
Japan: The Right Flowers
Following World War II, the tradition of using carnations to symbolize motherhood began. Children gave their mothers red carnations, and those who had lost their mother displayed a white carnation. The tradition has evolved to giving white carnations to all mothers. Today, mothers are taken out to eat and celebrated with gifts, such as kimonos, kokeshi dolls, and cards.
Ethiopia: Antrosht
On the second Sunday in May, The Antrosht Festival is dedicated to mothers. The 3-day celebration calls for the whole family to gather and enjoy traditional Ethiopian meals. Daughters traditionally provide the vegetables and cheese while the boys in the family provide the meat. The meal includes hash–a combination of lamb or bull, vegetables, butter, and spices and Ethiopian punch–a mixture of lemon, orange, grape, and pineapple juice, and Rosebery syrup. After the feast, families gather to sing, dance, and play music.
Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador: Sweet Serenade
Dia de Las Madres is always held on May 10 and is filled with flowers, large family gatherings, and community celebrations. Many businesses close, and Mariachi music and singing fill the cities and rural towns. The tradition has been carried to the US, where many Mexican-American families celebrate by hiring Mariachi bands to serenade the family matriarch.
France: Medals for Mom
In 1806, Napoleon established a special day dedicated to the mothers of large families. This celebration was revived after World War I when it was adjusted to honor the widows who lost their husbands during the war. In 1941, the government chose the last Sunday of May as the official Mother’s Day date.
In every French municipality, the mayor can honor mothers of large families by giving them a special medal called “Médaille de la Famille” (Family Medal). Mothers can receive a gold medal if they have more than eight children, a silver medal if they have six or seven children, and a bronze medal if they have four or five children.
Most French families now celebrate more simply by giving gifts of flowers, perfume, and jewelry.
This year, especially, moms have taken on even more and they deserve to be treated to at least one special day that is all theirs. You may not be able to get a mariachi band to serenade your favorite mom, but a little creativity will definitely be appreciated!