10 Mother’s Day Traditions from Around the World

1. Mother’s Day in the U.K. – Mothering Sunday

Let’s all just take a moment of silence to appreciate the fact we don’t live in the Medieval times. To say it was unpleasant for anyone other than chicken-leg-wielding kings would be quite an understatement. If you were born poor, you were often sent off to work as a domestic servant for a rich family so you could support your own family, even if you were only a child.

To us 2019 folk, cleaning up after a family of rich people when you haven’t even had your first period yet sounds like a very specific type of hell on Earth (not just any rich people either; Medieval rich people. That’s a lot of chicken bones…) However, to those alive during the Middle Ages, it was just what they had to do to get by. That said, comparing the everyday trials and tribulations of modern youth to emptying the Lady of the Manor’s bedpan at age seven really puts things into perspective.

One of the very rare days that these baby-servants would be granted off from their domestic duties of straightening silky robes and polishing lutes (I’m not a historian, but I am really utilising Google) was known as Mothering Sunday. This was an opportunity for servants to visit their Mother Church (the one in which they were christened) and see their families. Alright, that’s all well and good, but imagine being a miniature servant in the Middle Ages and the only day off you get from roasting quails (thanks again, Google) is to go to church? Again, in 2019 that sounds like a hard slog, but in the Middle Ages, Mothering Sunday was celebrated as a time to get together with family. Falling on the fourth Sunday in Lent, it also served as a break from the Lenten Season to enjoy some quite gross-looking Medieval food, such as the Simnel cake. For this reason, it was also known as Refreshment Sunday. Okay, I know you all want to see it. Let’s take a look at this cake, shall we?

This is the Simnel Cake, or ‘Mothering Cake’, which was made with fruit and marzipan. Oh, what’s that? The two worst things, together in a cake? Well, it’s the Medieval times, so let’s do it!

So essentially, Mother’s Day in the UK didn’t come as a direct result of wanting to celebrate mothers. It was a Religious celebration which tied into appreciation of the family, and by extension, the mother of the family.

Comparing that to the Mother’s Day we know today, Prosecco and floral arrangements aplenty, presents quite the striking difference. Although some Religious folk in the U.K. will still visit church on Mothering Sunday, it’s evolved over time from being a Religious celebration to the more secular holiday we celebrate today. This is thanks in part to Anna Jarvis, and her influence from America. More about that here…

2. Mother’s Day in the U.S.

Let’s make a move across the Atlantic, and forward in time from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. I’d like to introduce you to a fierce historical figure of the recent past, the mother of mother’s day: Anna Jarvis.

Why there hasn’t been a film made about Anna Jarvis, I don’t know. This eccentric character is responsible for creating Mother’s Day as a national holiday in America, inspired by the humanitarian efforts of her own mother.

Anna Jarvis, unsung hero of American history that she was, led a life steeped in tragedy. She was one of eleven children, seven of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Anna’s mother, Ann Jarvis, was a social activist who was devoted to her faith and active in the community of the local church. Anna loved her mother, looked up to her and absorbed her teachings like a sponge. Now, a lot of us spend our childhoods idolising our parents, but not all of us create a national holiday as a result. Anna’s mother often led the church’s Sunday school, and it was during one of these lessons that Anna cooked up the idea for Mother’s Day, inspired by something her mother said:

“I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial Mother’s Day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.”

Although Ann unwittingly planted the seed for mother’s day in Anna’s head in childhood, it wasn’t until after her passing that it blossomed into its full size. Ann Jarvis died on the 9th May, 1905, and 3 years later, Anna organised a memorial service for her mother. This service was the catalyst for Mother’s Day: Anna Jarvis’ legacy and, eventually, her financial downfall.

Spurred on by the death of her mother, Anna campaigned to have Mother’s Day made into a national holiday. In May 1910, the state of West Virginia declared Mother’s Day officially, and the rest of the states promptly followed suit: huzzah! (Is that the sort of thing people said back then?) Well, not exactly ‘huzzah’… Anna’s invention, a day created with the pure and simple intention of appreciating one’s mother, gained its own momentum. It was eventually plucked out of her hands and spun into the whirlwind of consumerism. Floral and greetings card companies hijacked Mother’s Day and used it to sell their products, eventually turning it into the commercial holiday we know today. Anna became furious that her precious creation, a day originally created in memory of her own mother, had become appropriated in this way. Her fierce defence of the true meaning of Mother’s Day began, turning her into an absolutely unstoppable golden quote machine.

Anna said of greetings cards: “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.”

Shots fired. (Also, how does she know about the candy? I put the wrappers back in the box to make it look like there was still some in there…)

Anna Jarvis was also very picky about the semantics surrounding Mother’s Day, and one little guy in particular really got her goat: the humble apostrophe. That’s right, it’s Mother’s Day, not Mothers’ Day, I’ll have you know. She stated the word “Mother’s” should “be a singular possessive, for each family to honor its own mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world.”

Anna’s defence of every specific little nook and cranny of Mother’s Day fell on deaf ears, and other people continued to profit from her invention. She was so angry about the situation as it spiralled wildly out of her own control that she eventually campaigned to have Mother’s Day rescinded.

Yes. Let’s go through that one more time, just in case you missed it: Anna Jarvis, THE FOUNDER OF ACTUAL MOTHER’S DAY, hated what it became so much that she wanted to have it abolished.

It’s a cruel irony that Anna’s fierce defence of her holiday’s true meaning drained her dignified pockets, while everyone else got rich from her idea. Not only that, but Anna was committed to Marshall Square Sanatorium midway through her campaign to abolish Mother’s Day, so it never reached a conclusion. Nobody in Anna’s family could afford the medical bills required to cover treatment at this facility, so people who worked in the floral and greetings card industries footed the bill for her treatment.

And here ends Anna Jarvis’ story: a life led campaigning for the memory of her late mother, ending penniless in a Sanatorium. Having never had children of her own, her legacy lives on in the form of Mother’s Day, but perhaps not in the way she would have wanted it to. Contemporary Mother’s Day in the U.S. is not all that different to the U.K: a day spent exchanging gifts, most likely including a box of chocolates, a bunch of flowers and a greetings card or two. But also, a day designated for a mother to spend time with her children, whether that’s over a Bottomless Brunch or a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. Golden quote machine and American hero that she was, maybe Anna Jarvis never considered that physical gifts and genuine appreciation can exist side-by-side in harmony: Greetings cards and meaningful messages, boxes of chocolates and quality time. I still agree with her about the apostrophe, though.

3. Mother’s Day in France - Fête Des Mères

Napoleon thought of the idea for Mother’s Day in 1806, but it wasn’t introduced until the late 19th century, when the stagnant birth rate made it seem like a good political move for the French government. Worried about the lack of cute little French sprogs, they realised officialising Mother’s Day would be the most convenient option for them.

In 1904, mothers were added to the Paternal Union, and in 1908, La Ligue Populaire des Pères et Mères de Familles Nombreuses was created. (For any other English speakers whose eyes just crossed involuntarily, that means The People's League of Fathers and Mothers of Large Families. Merci, Google Translate!)

Basically, if you had produced a whole load of petit sprogs, you were officially honoured by your country for contributing to population growth with your healthy reproductive system. Americans fighting in World War 1 also played a part in bringing Mother’s Day to France, thanks to influence from our old pal Anna Jarvis.

Have you ever told your mum that she’s so great she deserves a medal? Well, in France she might hold you to that. The Medaille de la Famille Francaise was introduced in 1920 to honour mothers of large families. This award came in three categories: If you had 4 or 5 children, you’d be eligible for a Bronze. Silver was awarded to the ever-so-slightly busier parents of 6 or 7 children. Gold was only for those who had eight or more children, which if you’re wondering, is the same amount as the recommended number of hours sleep you’re supposed to get per night.

As someone who can’t even keep a succulent plant alive, raising just one child seems like a challenge akin to bouldering Mount Everest with coconut oil on your hands. Essentially, everyone completing this slippery lifetime mountain of a task deserves a medal, but only in France can you actually get decorated with one from the government.

4. Mother’s Day in India

Mothers have always been revered by Indian culture, so it’s not surprising to learn that Mother’s Day is celebrated there. What you may find surprising is that rather than being an Indian celebration, it borrows its roots from the West. Mother’s Day is fairly new concept in India, having only really come to the forefront in the past decade or so. Influenced by the U.S., India celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. (America gave us Oreos; they gave India Mother’s Day. It’s a fair trade…)

Mother’s Day is a secular holiday in India rather than a Religious celebration, so it’s celebrated by the diverse range of cultures across the country in different ways. Most people opt for the standard fare of flowers and a card (sorry, Anna) but in a particularly adorable turn of events, some schools will stage special variety shows with children dedicating performances of poetry, singing and dancing to their mums. Basically, take all the cuteness of a nativity and multiply it by 100.

Seasonal commercialism runs rampant in India’s capital of Delhi, where companies will use Mother’s Day as a marketing strategy to leverage themselves against competitors. These include launching products specifically aimed at women to tie into the holiday, and taking out special T.V. spots for the occasion. Restaurants, bars and shops will be plastered with decoration and adverts for Mother’s Day specials, trying to encourage families to dine with them.

5. Mother’s Day in Brazil - Dia das Mães

Brazil first celebrated Mother’s Day (or Dia das Mães) on 12th May 1918, in Porto Alegre, just a few years after Anna Jarvis weaved her motherly magic into the American calendar. It was brought to Brazil by Frank Long, the General Secretary of the Institution (This will be #1 in a series of long and fancy titles, so buckle up), and assigned to the Christian Association of Young Men of Rio Grande do Sul (Don’t say I didn’t warn you…)

After this first celebration, the holiday gained popularity and spread throughout the rest of the country, just as it had in the States.

This next part is where the story gets pretty great. In 1932, President Getúlio Vargas officialised Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May. This was at the request of a group of feminists called the Brazilian Federation for the Progress of Women, who were determined for society to value women after they had finally won the right to vote earlier in the year. (Yeah, you know, in 1932. 4 years after bubble-gum was invented.)

Mother’s Day gained Religious traction in 1947, when Bishop Jaime de Barros Câmara, Cardinal-Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, decided to make the date part of the official calendar of the Catholic Church. As a story about Feminists affecting change, it doesn’t come much better than this one: a government listening to the rallying cries of women, and the actions trickling down to the Catholic Church. I wasn’t kidding when I said there’s a lot we can learn from just looking at the history of Mother’s Day.

Today, Brazil takes Mother’s Day very seriously, and it clocks in at the second-biggest retail holiday after Christmas. Like Christmas, it requires a church service, with families coming together for huge celebrations, food and drinks in the mother’s honour.

6. Mother’s Day in Japan - 母の日 (Haha no hi)

母の日 (Haha no hi) is Mother’s Day in Japanese. This little guy 日 holds the meaning for ‘sun’ or ‘day’. It’s usually interpreted to signify children rising with the sun, as they traditionally do on Mother’s Day to spend extra time with their family.

The Japanese origin story of Mother’s Day is an interesting one. Rather than being invented in a fit of daughterly love as in the case of Anna Jarvis, or tied to Catholic tradition as in England, Japan’s original date for Mother’s Day was born purely out of Imperial Pride: 6th March was Empress Kojun’s birthday, who is Emperor Akihito’s mother. Mother’s Day in Japan was officially established in 1931, but during the Second World War, the Japanese were prohibited from celebrating Western customs, so Mother’s Day was axed.

Japan did a total 180° in 1949 after the war was over, reviving Mother’s Day and changing the date to the second Sunday in May, to match the Americans.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days in Japan for shops and restaurants, as hordes of loving offspring flock to show their mothers affection in the form of flowers and meals. Japan associates pink carnations with Mother’s Day as they’re thought to symbolise love and purity. Unsurprisingly, retail giants lean hard into this symbolism. The arrival of Mother’s Day is announced by adorning shopfronts with flowers, causing little incongruous gardens to spring up everywhere.

In terms of meals, eggs are symbolically associated with Mother’s Day (don’t think too hard about that) so, egg-based dishes (stop thinking about it) are a popular choice on Mother’s Day.

On a serious note, some of these egg-based dishes look pretty delicious, toe-scrunching association notwithstanding. I wouldn’t kick this egg custard dish off my table.

7. Mother’s Day in Peru - Día de la Madre

While Mother’s Day is often concerned with the gifting of shop-bought material goods, the Peruvian approach is much more hand-made. My own childhood memories of hand-making gifts for my mum bring up images of spilled glitter, glue everywhere, and pieces of uncooked pasta which really would have been put to better use in a Minestrone, but instead ended up as an unwitting component of my messy attempt at self-expression.

But the hand-made Mother’s Day efforts of Peruvian children seem to steer clear of the uncooked pasta genre, and instead take the form of poems, artistic cards, surprise parties and extravagant meals. (I mean, I spent ages sticking that macaroni onto that cardboard, but whatever…)

The point is, Peruvian children will pour their heart and soul into making their mum feel special on Mother’s Day, whether that takes the form of giving her an evening where she doesn’t have to think about dinner, or moving her to tears with a heartfelt poem. (…or, y’know, giving her a really great card made with dried macaroni, which is not an easy artistic medium to work with by the way!)

It’s obvious that the mother is an important figure in Peruvian culture, and her continuous hard work is rewarded. Mother’s Day is a time for appreciating the mother figure in your life, and thanking her for everything she does for you. But what about those mothers who have passed on? In Peru, it’s a tradition for families to visit the graveyard where the deceased mothers are buried, pay their respects and decorate the grave with floral tributes. This is a celebration of the deceased mother’s lives, and a way to remember them on Mother’s Day. While graveyards are usually thought of as grey and sombre places, the graveyards in Peru on Mother’s Day are adorned with colourful decorations and tributes.

8. Mother’s Day in Ethiopia – Antrosht

Most cultures take just one day to show appreciation for their mothers, but what if this show of appreciation was spread out across three days? This is the case for Mother’s Day in Ethiopia, which takes place in Autumn rather than Spring. It brings with it the end of the rainy season, and acts as a celebration of clear skies, family and motherhood. As the clouds close, the family gathers for a traditional feast of hash, singing and dancing. This is all part of a festival known as Antrosht.

The feast is cooked up by the mother, and the children are expected to gather the ingredients. Interestingly, these ingredients are separated by gender - so if you’re a girl, you’ll be expected to bring butter, cheese, vegetables and spices, whereas boys will bring the meat, which is usually lamb or bull.

After the meal, the mothers and daughters perform a ritual which involves anointing their faces and chests with butter. Next, everyone dances while the men sing traditional songs. This ritual is repeated over the next three days. During this, a delicious-sounding Ethiopian punch made with pineapples, lemons, grape juice and Rosebury syrup is served.

9. Mother’s Day in Thailand – วันแม่ (Wạn mæ)

Like Japan, Thailand centres their Mother’s Day celebrations around their own monarchy: 12th August is Queen Sirikit’s birthday, and she’s thought of as The Mother of the Nation. Therefore, guess when Mother’s Day is? That’s right, it’s celebrated on the same day she came into the world. Peppered with a sense of regal pride, Thailand is decorated with portraits of the Queen’s face during this time, as well as her distinctive royal blue flag. The first official Mother’s Day in Thailand was celebrated on 12th August, 1976, and since then, the country has taken to the day like a duck to water.

Preparations for the decorations begin well over a week in advance. Basically, Thailand makes the U.K. look like total Mother’s Day lightweights. As well as being decorated especially for the occasion, the country also closes schools, businesses and government buildings for the day, opening up more time for people to spend with their mothers, and to celebrate the birthday of their beloved queen. (But you know, we have those Mother’s Day brunches, though…)

Buddhist Temples take part in the celebrations by holding special ceremonies, where offerings of food are presented to the monks, and Thai children kneel at their mother’s feet to pay their respects. Jasmine is a traditional Mother’s Day gift in Thailand as it is thought to resemble motherhood.

10. Mother’s Day in Mexico - Día de la Madre

What is Mother’s Day? Is it a feminist celebration of women and their power, as the Brazilian Federation for the Progress of Women believed? Or is it a day tied up with poisonous traditional values, teaching women that their only role is as a caregiver to children?

The history of Mother’s Day in Mexico throws up this question. In the 1920’s, some Mexican citizens believed that women were being diverted from their ‘true purpose’ of running around after young children by fanciful thoughts of careers, politics and being able to vote in elections. Determined to put them back in their place, a motley crew assembled and made plans to force women around the country out of the ballot booth and back into the kitchen. This was made up of the writers of a women’s magazine, the editor of the Mexico City newspaper, and the Association of Christian Ladies. I can only imagine the meetings. They joined forces in the fight for traditional values, and their efforts coalesced with an article published by Mexico City newspaper, encouraging the celebration of Mother’s Day. The massive media campaign was a success, and the first Mother’s Day was celebrated in Mexico on 10th May, 1922. The archbishop of Mexico gave official sanction to the holiday, and it was after this that images of the Madonna and Child found their way onto the front of Mother’s Day cards.

Whether a celebration of womanhood, or a patriotic and Religious holiday, Mother’s Day is a serious affair in Mexico, where the mother figure is held in very high esteem. Whereas most people in the U.K. will have left home by the age of eighteen, a suitcase full of Pot Noodle in tow, it’s not uncommon for Mexican men to stay with their mothers well into adulthood. To incorporate ‘Mother’ into an insult in Mexico is thought of as offensive to the point of being blasphemous. As such, Mexico is not messing around when it comes to Mother’s Day. The date is very purposely fixed at the 10th May, rather than shifting around to always fall on a Sunday. Like in Thailand, businesses, schools, and banks will close for the day.

Basically, if the Queen is the Mother of Thailand, the Mother figure is the Queen of Mexico. So worshipped is she that Mother’s Day lunches in her honour can run on for six hours, and families will hold huge gatherings, the size of which even Martha Stewart might struggle to manage. We’re talking 80 or 90 people, who all come to gather and celebrate the mothers in their family.

If families want to take mum out for lunch instead of having it at home, there’ll be no shortage of staff to serve them. It’s thought that around 200,000 additional waiters are put to work on Mother’s Day to satisfy the demand of adoring families.

The whole point of Mother’s Day in Mexico is to carve out a day for La madre to relax, put her feet up and let her hair down. She is practically showered with Tequila, and flowers are non-negotiable.

Thanks For Reading!

…And that concludes our list of 10 Mother’s Day Traditions from Around the World! We hope you enjoyed finding out about the rich history of Mother’s Day, and its contemporary traditions. Whether you consider it to be a consumerism-driven greetings-card machine, a beautiful celebration of motherhood, or just a great excuse to get your mum drunk, have a happy Mother’s Day in your own unique way, and celebrate her for the individual that she is. (Don’t bake her a simnel cake, though. She brought you into the world; you can do better than that.)