A Just Bloom Global Guide to Mother’s Day: How the World Celebrates Maternal Love
Mother’s Day is a holiday dedicated to honoring mothers and motherhood. The exact date varies across the globe, but no matter where it’s celebrated, the spirit of the holiday is the same: to express love, gratitude, and respect for mothers.
The modern version of Mother’s Day originated in the United States. In the early 20th century, Anna Jarvis advocated for the holiday in memory of her own mother’s sacrifices. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially designated the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day. The tradition soon spread worldwide, with different regions adapting their own unique customs.
North America & Europe
United States & Canada
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Giving flowers (especially carnations), cards, and gifts. Family brunches or dinners are common, and many children prepare handmade gifts.
Special note: Carnations are symbolic—red carnations honor living mothers, while white carnations remember mothers who have passed.
United Kingdom
Date: Fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Mothering Sunday
Customs: Historically, people would return to their “Mother Church” for a service and family reunion. Today, the holiday resembles the modern Mother’s Day with flowers, cards, and small gifts.
Special note: A traditional food is the Simnel Cake, a fruit and marzipan cake.
France
Date: Last Sunday in May (moved to the first Sunday of June if it overlaps with Pentecost)
Customs: Children give cards and handmade gifts, and families enjoy a festive meal.
Special note: Mothers are celebrated as the “queen of the home,” and bakeries often sell crown-shaped cakes in their honor.
Germany
Date: Second Sunday in May (postponed if it falls on a public holiday)
Customs: Giving flowers, cards, and gifts. Adult children often travel home to visit their mothers.
Special note: During the Nazi era, Mother’s Day was politicized to glorify motherhood, but today it is purely a warm, family-oriented celebration.
Latin America
Mexico
Date: Always on May 10
Customs: Children wake their mothers with the traditional song Las Mañanitas. Schools and churches often host special events.
Special note: Families gather for a lavish lunch or dinner in honor of mothers.
Brazil
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Family gatherings and religious services, especially in Catholic-majority areas.
Special note: The celebration is often intertwined with devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Peru
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Families celebrate both living and deceased mothers. Many people visit cemeteries to decorate graves with flowers.
Special note: The holiday combines remembrance with gratitude.
Asia
Japan
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Giving carnations or red roses, symbols of purity and love.
Special note: Children often prepare meals or create artwork for their mothers.
China
Date: Second Sunday in May (not a traditional holiday)
Customs: Growing in popularity, especially in cities. Flowers, cards, and small gifts are common. Some emphasize the connection with traditional filial piety.
Special note: NGOs sometimes use Mother’s Day to promote charity for poor or rural mothers.
India
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Popular in urban areas, with gift-giving and family meals. Less observed in rural regions.
Special note: India also has traditional festivals that honor mother goddesses, blending modern Mother’s Day with local culture.
Thailand
Date: August 12, the birthday of Queen Sirikit, regarded as the mother of the nation
Customs: Children kneel at their mother’s feet in a traditional gesture of respect, and jasmine flowers (symbols of pure maternal love) are given.
Special note: The holiday has strong royal and national significance.
Middle East & Africa
Arab Countries (e.g., Egypt, Syria, Lebanon)
Date: March 21, the spring equinox
Customs: Giving flowers and gifts to mothers.
Special note: The date was first promoted in the 1950s by Egyptian journalist Mustafa Amin and later adopted by many Arab nations.
Ethiopia
Date: Celebrated during the harvest festival Antrosht, usually in autumn
Customs: Families return home for a large feast. Daughters bring vegetables and cheese, while sons provide meat.
Special note: The focus is on food, family, and gratitude for mothers.
Oceania
Australia
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Very similar to Western traditions—flowers, cards, and family gatherings. Chrysanthemums are especially popular because the word ends with “mum.”
Special note: Many people also take part in charity drives to support disadvantaged mothers.
New Zealand
Date: Second Sunday in May
Customs: Giving flowers, cards, and spending time together as a family.
Special note: The holiday often involves outdoor activities like picnics and hikes, reflecting the country’s love of nature.
Though the dates, customs, and meanings of Mother’s Day vary worldwide, the essence of the celebration remains the same: love and gratitude for mothers. In some countries, it is tied to religion, while in others it is all about family gatherings. Some observe it in spring, while others wait until summer or autumn.
No matter the form, Mother’s Day is a universal reminder to appreciate the sacrifices, nurturing, and unconditional love of mothers everywhere.
