A History of Mother's Day Celebrations Around the World

While mothers have always been important to human societies, they haven't always been given the credit they're due for all of their hard work. In the early 1900s, the creation of Mother's Day aimed to change that by setting aside a day to honor the sacrifices and love of our mothers. Mother's Day has since evolved from a modest event to an international phenomenon, celebrating the bonds shared between mothers and their children all over the world.

Origins of Mother's Day in the United States

The origin of Mother's Day came in the early 20th century in the United States. It was a project of Anna Jarvis, but the idea was actually suggested by her own mother, who mentioned the idea while leading a West Virginia Sunday school class in 1876. Jarvis kept the idea in mind as she grew up, and when her mother died in 1905, she resolved to make a holiday honoring mothers a reality. She chose the second Sunday in May for this commemoration because it was close to the date of her mother's death, May 9.

In 1908, Jarvis organized the very first Mother's Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. The idea quickly spread as Jarvis wrote letters to newspapers and politicians across the country, pushing for the adoption of a holiday to honor motherhood. In 1912, she started the Mother's Day International Association to support this cause. In 1914, her efforts paid off when President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's Day an official national holiday. Today, Mother's Day is widely celebrated across the country, with many people giving their mothers flowers, taking them out to brunch, or giving them gifts to show their appreciation for the hard work that they do.

Mother's Day Traditions in Other Countries

Although the Mother's Day holiday began in the United States, numerous countries and cultures have developed their own traditions to honor mothers.

In the United Kingdom, the concept of Mother's Day was a good fit with the existing celebration of Mothering Sunday, a Christian tradition that involves visiting one's "mother church" on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This tradition evolved into a day when children would go visit their mothers and give them presents, which might include simnel cake, a type of fruitcake associated with Lent.

In France, the celebration is called "la Fête des Mères," and it originated as a celebration of women with many children amid concerns about the country's low birth rate. Today, the holiday is celebrated at the end of May, with children giving their mothers small gifts or flowers.

In Mexico, it's traditional for children to wake their mothers by playing music on Mother's Day. They will also put on a skit to entertain their mothers and take them out to eat at a restaurant.

Peruvian families celebrate their mothers in the week before Mother's Day, giving them gifts and taking them out to eat. But Mother's Day itself is a somber holiday, when people go to the cemetery to clean and decorate the graves of their mothers and other deceased female relatives.

And while quite a few countries have their celebrations in early May, many combine Mother's Day with International Women's Day, which is on March 8.

Common Flowers Given to Moms on Mother's Day and Their Symbolism

For many years, flowers have been a highly regarded symbol of love, gratitude, and appreciation on Mother's Day. Each bloom has its own meaning, which makes flowers thoughtful present to be given to the wonderful mothers in our lives.

Roses

Roses are traditionally an emblem of love. Red roses can be a symbol of deep romantic love and gratitude, while pink roses convey admiration, appreciation, and gentleness.

Carnations

Carnations are widely known as a Mother's Day flower. Their ruffled petals and pleasant perfume symbolize motherhood. The bright shades of pink and red carnations express a mother's love, while the white ones symbolize remembrance.

Lilies

Lilies, with tall stalks and admirable blooms, are symbols of motherhood. The purity of their white petals symbolizes humility and the unconditional love a mother has for her children. Amber and pink lilies stand for warmth, joyfulness, and great expectations, emotions very close to the hearts of all who celebrate this day.

Tulips

Tulips symbolize the nobility and splendor of mothers. Their cheerful blooms express love and affection, and they are a perfect choice to honor the women in our lives, especially on this special day.

Orchids

Exotic orchids symbolize the power and elegance that mothers possess. These eye-catching, flamboyant flowers represent love, luxury, and admiration.

Additional Resources

• History of Mother's Day
• Explore the Fascinating History of Mother's Day
• The Surprisingly Sad Origins of Mother's Day
• What Is the History of Mother's Day?
• Anna Jarvis: The Woman Who Regretted Creating Mother's Day
• Mother's Day and Father's Day: Old and New Traditions
• What Different Flowers Mean on Mother's Day
• Mother's Day Flower Arrangements
• Flowers and Their Meanings: The Language of Flowers
• Six Mother's Day Traditions From Around the World
• Eight Traditional Ways of Celebrating Mother's Day Around the World

The page was created by Chad Kremp