Mother’s Day Around The World
If you live in England then you know that on a traditional Mothering Sunday you’re expected to turn up and say “Thanks Mum”, perhaps over a roast dinner that you’ve treated her to in the local pub. Well we were wondering what Mother’s Day means to people across the world, so we’ve done some research to try and find some traditions from across the world.
United States: In America they do things pretty much the same as in the UK but obviously bigger, larger and with greater gusto. This is no bad thing but it wouldn’t really suit us in Britain. They like to be loud in America and all credit to them.
Australia: Like our American friends the Aussies like to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of March. It isn’t celebrated as a public holiday and it is traditional to give your mother a Chrysanthemum as this flower is in season during this period ‘down under’, and funnily enough it ends with ‘mum’. Those Australians sure know how to be whacky for their Mums.
Another Australian tradition which is also followed in the United States is the wearing of a carnation. A coloured flower indicates their mother is living whereas a white flower shows that their mother has passed away, sad.
In Australia it’s not only Mothers who get celebrated but Grandmother’s and anyone who takes an active part in rearing a child. Those lucky people can expect to get breakfast in bed and maybe some flowers.
Czech Republic: After the Berlin wall came down in 1989 the east became more westernised and traditions were embraced such as Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. This was officially started in 1993 and has carried on since then although there has been a rise in the popularity of Women’s Day (8th March). Women’s Day is now becoming just as popular and may exceed Mother’s Day.
France: Unlike any other country (trust the French to be a little different), Mother’s Day is always on the last Sunday of May. There is of course one exception to this rule and this is if the last Sunday falls on the 27th in which case Mother’s Day is then switched to 3rd June.
Another tradition is to bake a cake in the shape of a bouquet of flowers, sweet.
Germany: An interesting fact about Germany’s Mother’s Day is that it started in 1923 to help promote women to have more children. This was done by the ‘Association of German Florists’, florists have slowly changed the world!
Indonesia: Mother’s Day is held on an odd day in Indonesia as it’s on 22nd December. In most western countries this would be too close to Christmas but in Indonesia this is not celebrated widely.
Some of the traditions include holding surprise parties and having competitions in cooking or Kebaya wearing. Generally people also allow mothers to have their day off from doing domestic chores, jolly nice of them on Mother’s Day.
Ireland: An interesting fact as to how Mother’s Day was started in Ireland is that it is held on the fourth Sunday in the Christian fasting month of Lent. An early tradition on this day is that children were given a day off to visit their ‘Mother Church’ and worship the Virgin Mary. They would pick flowers on the way and present them at the church. Nice.
China: Again, carnations are popular at this time of the year in the country with the world’s largest population and so the most sold type of flower. However an organisation called the Chinese Mother’s Festival Promotion Society (catchy name!) asked to replace the gift of carnations with lilies. In ancient times these were planted by Chinese mothers when children left home.
In China, Mother’s Day was created in 1997 to help poor mothers; however it’s yet to be recognised as a public holiday.
Mexico: Another country where the date of Mother’s day is slightly different to the rest of the world as it’s fixed on the 10th May. Traditions here include having a special mass organised by the church as Mother’s Day is taken to be more of a religious day than one just to celebrate mothers. During the day an orchestra will play “Las Mañanitas” and distribute tamales and atole which is a traditional early morning meal to all the local mothers.
Pakistan: Here Mother’s Day is more sombre for those who have lost their mothers and is a time for prayer to pay their respects to the deceased. For those whose mothers are still living they do the usual thing of giving gifts and flowers.
Sweden: Mother´s Day in Sweden is celebrated the last Sunday in May. The reason for the late date is said to be because then everybody could go outside and pick flowers.
Filed under: Flowers, General, International Flowers, Mother's Day on March 7th, 2012
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