Mother’s Day Around the World
Sunday is Mother’s Day and many of us are busy preparing special surprises to show Mom that we care. In the United States, it is common practice to cook breakfast for our mothers in addition to giving her store-bought or home made cards. Some families even give their mothers presents. Has anyone wondered how other cultures celebrate Mother’s Day? According to www.mothers.net, there are a lot of different ways to celebrate.
In ancient Greece, it was a tradition to pay tribute to the mother of all gods, Rhea by enjoying honey-cakes and fine drinks. Today, mothers still have a strong influence on Greek culture through different words. For example, the words meter in Greek and mantra in Sanskrit mean mother as well as measurement.
India celebrates the holiday in early October, holding a Durga Puja festival for ten days. This festival is held to idolize The Divine Mother in the Hindu religion, proving that the sacredness of mothers is an important belief in the culture.
The tradition of Mothers Day in England was established in the 1600s, celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent. On this day, Mothering Sunday, both mothers and the church were honored. Servants were given the day off to be at home with their mothers and people would celebrate by making various types of cakes to eat.
Mothers Day in France, or Fete des Meres as it’s commonly known, is a family affair, and all about lavishing attention on Mom. Observed on the last Sunday of May, children make cards and recite poems for their mothers. In addition, the whole family gets together to share a meal, and end the meal eating cake for dessert.
Children of Spain honor their mothers on December 8, connecting the holiday to Mary, the mother of God in the Christian tradition. They make cards for their mothers and give presents of chocolate, flowers, or even homemade crafts to show their mothers how much they care.
Finally, in Sweden, Mothers Day is all about remembering those less fortunate than them. Through the sale of plastic flowers by the Red Cross, money is donated to help out struggling mothers and their children.
There are so many different ways to show Mom how much she is loved! However you celebrate the day, make sure you remember that one woman who makes your life extra special all year round. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday!
