Breakfast in bed, freshly picked flowers, and a day of pampering are just some of the ways South Africans will celebrate their moms and mother figures on Sunday.
But this isn’t the only way to show appreciation for the maternal figure in your life. If you’re feeling like drawing on some international inspiration, here’s a look at some of the ways Mother’s Day is celebrated around the globe.
1. Mother’s Day in Peru
Celebrated as Dia de la Madre on the second Sunday in May, this Peruvian holiday includes a series of large meals and performances in honour of the mothers in the community. As in South Africa, moms are spoilt with brunch and a day with their loving children, but it’s also a day for remembering those who’ve passed on. Families will gather at grave sites to remember female relatives.
2. Mother’s Day in Mexico
Dia de las Madres was first celebrated on 10 May 1992, and has grown to become a massive celebration on this day each year. Traditionally, mothers play a significant role in Mexican culture – as can be seen by the Madonna and Child displayed throughout the country – and Mother’s Day is a great way to celebrate the mater. The day usually starts with children rousing mom with music, followed by a day of spoils and all meals made by the family, with a skit put on by the children.
3. Mother’s Day in India
Although Mother’s Day celebrations are also a fairly new occurrence in India, the country also reveres the female role model of the family. The Hindu religion has a 10-day celebration of the divine Mother Durga and the Great Mother-Kali Ma during the Durga Puja in October. Further to this, Mother’s Day, as well as the pain and suffering endured at birth, is honoured through cards, gifts and meals.
4. Mother’s Day in Bulgaria
For Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Romania, Cameroon, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Mother’s Day is celebrated simultaneously with the country’s Women’s Day celebrations. In Bulgaria, it was first celebrated in 1910, but this was ratified by the United Nations in 1975.
5. Mother’s Day in Japan
Originally, the Japanese honoured mothers on Haha no Hi which was the birthday of Empress Koujun, whose tenure spanned most of the 20th century. However, following World War II, Mother’s Day evolved to become a day to comfort mothers who’d lost sons in the war during March, with carnations presented to indicate the endurance of a mother’s love. Children would give a red carnation to a living mother, and would wear a white carnation to honour a mother who had died.
6. Mother’s Day in Thailand
Just as the empress was strongly connected to Mother’s Day celebrations in Japan, so the revered Queen Sirikit – the Mother of the Nation – came to represent the importance of this day in Thailand. Her birthday, 12 August, is the annual Mother’s Day celebration, accompanied by ceremonies and parades. Gifts of jasmine – dok mali – are given to symbolise qualities of purity, gentleness and motherhood. From early morning the ceremonies begin, with people offering food to Buddhist monks as a means of giving alms, while schools perform rehearsed ceremonies. Children will kneel at their mothers’ feet to pay respect.
7. Mother’s Day in Bolivia
While some Mother’s Day celebrations are relatively new, the Bolivian celebration dates back to the 1800s with significant historical ties. On 27 May 1812, a group of Bolivian women took on the Spanish army in an attempt to free their country. This was declared a national holiday in 1927, with children putting on a performance and presenting their mothers with cake.
Whatever way you choose to honour your mother, mother figure, role model or other significant female figure, make it a memorable one this year!
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