Mother’s Day traditions you might not know about
Mother’s Day is less than a week away and it got us to thinking… Where did Mother’s Day come from and how did it become such a popular celebration?
We have searched far and high to find some interesting Mother’s Day traditions from around the world…
The UK
As most of us are from the UK, let’s start with what we do here! Many people send cards, flowers and gifts to their mums on the 19th March as a way to say thank you for everything they have done for them. But where did the tradition actually come from?
Mothering Sunday was originally a religious celebration dating as far back as the 1500s. On the fourth Sunday of Lent, people would take the day off work so that they could visit the church they were baptized in (also known as their mother church.) During this time, they would gather with family to celebrate their faith and love of one another.
Even though it is a much less religious occasion, the idea of family is still very much part of Mother’s Day in the UK.
USA
Mother’s Day in the USA first began in 1908 when activist Anna Jarvis set up a day to honour the sacrifices that mothers made for their children. Her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, set up Mother’s Day Work Clubs in the 19th century which showed mothers how to care for their kids sufficiently. Through the family’s perseverance, hard work and dedication, the states and churches decided to get involved and celebrate the day, with the first recognised one taking place on the second Sunday of May in 1914.
In the modern day, mums can take the day off from housework and chores, and are usually cooked a tasty feast by their children. As well as receiving flowers, a unique tradition is that Americans wear flower corsages on Mother’s Day. Wearing pink carnation represents a living mother compared to wearing white carnation, which represents one that is no longer with us.
Peru
Like America, Peru also celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May and not unsimilar to many other countries, the people of Peru send heartfelt gifts and cards to their mothers. However, families will also gather at cemeteries on the day to pay tribute to the mothers, aunts, and grandmothers who have passed away. They celebrate with food and drinks before cleaning the gravestones and decorating them with balloons, flowers and heart shaped signs.
Thailand
Thailand is another country that has very special traditions for Mother’s Day. On August 12, they celebrate the birthday of the Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. The aim of this day is to honour this symbolic female from the culture, as well every other mother too. Fireworks and candle lighting play a huge part in the day, as well as gifting white jasmine flowers as a symbol of the purity of a mother’s love. In addition to this, many mums pay a visit to their children’s schools, where the children then kneel before their mother’s feet as a true sign of respect.
Did you know that some people send a specially decorated wreath to their mum on Mother’s Day? These can feature her favourite flowers, sentimental wording and even be shaped like hearts. We know we are slightly biased, but we think wreaths make an absolutely amazing present for all the mums out there!