Mother’s Day has been recognised as a special event celebrated in over 40 countries around the globe. One thing that is common across the world is the love of a mother. Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates across different countries. The importance of this occasion also dates back to a unique history in every region, and various cultures across the world celebrate moms in different ways. Let’s know more about Mother’s Day traditions and it’s origin from around the world.
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United Arab Emirates – March 21, 2023
Arabic Mother’s Day is celebrated to honour mothers across the UAE and other Middle East countries. This history of Arabic Mother’s Day dates back to the era of Pharaohs of Egypt, who celebrated mothers by carving figures and drawings on the temples. Egyptian journalists asserted the first Mother’s Day campaign, which got rejected at first. Later, Arabic Mother’s Day was officialised by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in Egypt in 1956. The whole Arab world followed the trend that led to the celebration of Arabic Mother’s Day across all Middle East countries on the same date. Other countries that celebrate Mother’s Day on the same date are Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc. Giving Mother’s day flowers and sweets to mom is one of the most common ways of celebrating Arabic Mother’s Day.
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USA – May 14, 2023 (Second Sunday of May)
Mother’s Day was originally suggested in the United States in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe as a peace day after the Franco Prussian War. The holiday gained limelight when Anna M. Jarvis started a letter-writing campaign with national leaders and her friends after her mother’s death in 1905. She believed that mothers deserve to be appreciated and should have a special day to strengthen relationships and appreciate their journey. Anna requested her mother’s native church to mark the second death anniversary of her mother as Mother’s Day. Hence, the second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother’s Day to date. People in the USA send cards to their mother and serenade them with gifts on this day.
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United Kingdom – March 19, 2023 (Third Sunday of Lent)
Popularly known as Mothering Sunday, the foundation of Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom dates back to the practice of Lent. During Lent, the churchgoers who worked outside the village came back to visit their ‘mother’ church. Since then, Mothering Sunday is the time for family reunions and celebrations. People in the United Kingdom celebrate Mothering Sunday by cutting a special cake. Encouraging mothers with flowers and sending Mother’s Day gift hampers to the UK is also a popular way of celebrating this occasion.
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India – May 14, 2023 (Second Sunday of May)
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May in India. It brings forth an opportunity to honour mothers and appreciate the journey of Motherhood. Mother’s Day in India is influenced by the USA and dates back to the same history. Giving cards and sweets to mom is one of the most common ways of celebrating Mother’s Day in India. Other than this, taking mom out for meals and giving her a break from daily chores is also a popular way of celebrating this occasion in India.
Various other countries across the globe follow several other traditions to celebrate Mother’s Day on different dates. But every culture streams down this occasion to the core value that appreciates a mother’s role in society.
