All You Need to Know about Mothers Day

They give birth to us, feed us, raise us and nurture us. Mums are pretty awesome when you think about it.

And that’s why they have their own special celebration – Mother’s Day.

A day dedicated to showing our dear mums just what they mean to us, it is a holiday celebrated throughout the world – but just where does it originate from?

And how do celebrations differ?

We’ve put together a definitive guide to help you find out. Isn’t that nice?

The origins of Mother’s Day

Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day was not just dreamt up by Hallmark as another way to make money. The tradition actually dates back to Ancient Greece (way before Hallmark) and was originally a celebration that honoured the Mother of the Gods: Rhea.

In their celebration, Ancient Greeks would drink the best wine and eat the best food in celebration of their beloved Rhea who gave birth to their whole creation.

The Romans had their own equivalent to Rhea known as Magna Mater – ‘Great Mother’. They also celebrated this figure (at the end of every March) in a festival called Hilaria. They even built a temple solely for their ‘Great Mother’ in Rome.

From these early traditions, the modern holiday of Mothering Sunday was born. This modern take on the celebration began as a way for servants to spend the day with their mothers and families during the 1600s … but it doesn’t end there.

A woman named Anna Jarvis was responsible for making the celebration a public holiday in the 1900s. Her mother, Ann Jarvis, had worked hard throughout her life to ensure mothers were appreciated for their hard work and loyalty but unfortunately died before her dream came true

Her daughter Anna picked up the mantle and after many years she held her first Mother’s Day gathering at a local Methodist church in West Virginia, USA. Determined to get her holiday onto the national calendar, she regularly campaigned to local and national newspapers and politicians. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the day as a national holiday that would be celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

As the popularity of the American tradition grew, it began to be adopted in other countries – although the date of celebration differs. In the UK, we celebrate Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent as this is traditionally when Christians would visit their mother at church. Historians believe that on their way to see their mother, children would stop at the roadside and pick flowers as a gift while traditional foods associated with Lent, such as Simnel cake, were eaten.

Mother’s Day today

As you can see the traditions of Mother’s Day have changed a significant amount from the time of the Romans and Greeks but the overall meaning of the day has remained unchanged.

Today, as many as 71% of us describe our mum’s as our best friends – so it is no wonder that 30 million cards and gifts are purchased for the day! This might sound like a lot, but when you compare it to all of the effort and man hours our mums put into raising us, well, it pales in comparison.

According to research, the average mum spends over a period of 18 years:

8 days and 212 hours cooking
5 days and 867 hours washing
15 days and hard works looking after children

This hardwork certainly deserves a reward and that’s why Mother’s Day is such an important celebration. It’s the one day of the year when you can truly show your mum just how much she means to you and say ‘thanks’ for all the little things she does that often go unnoticed.

10 Things you didn’t know about Mother’s Day

When you think about it, your mum is one of the most special people in your lives. Experienced heartbreak? Bet it was your mum who consoled you with tissues and special chocolate. Fallen ill? Bet it was your mum who played nurse and made sure you got back on your feet.

Inherently selfless creatures, mums deserve to be celebrated on Mother’s Day and enjoy one day of the year when they don’t have to lift a finger.

Yet, while you might be preparing something special for your mum this Mother’s Day there are probable quite a few things you don’t know about the holiday. Let’s find out.

1. It used to be called Mothering Sunday

Ever heard Mother’s Day called Mothering Sunday? Well, that’s what it used to be called.

In the UK during the 1600s Mother’s Day fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Most children worked away from home from the tender age of 11 years back then but they would be allowed to return to their families on this day. They’d pick flowers for their mum on the way and present them to her on Mothering Sunday.

2. The USA do it a little differently

Believe it or not, Mother’s Day in America has a different history to that of ours. A young woman (who wasn’t a mother) named Anna Jarvis fought for the day to become a national holiday as a continuance of her mother’s work.

3. It actually comes from the Greeks

While the traditions and celebrations associate with Mother’s Day have their own unique histories, the actual custom of celebrating mothers and motherhood stems from Ancient Greece (doesn’t everything?) They help a festival to their Mother of Gods Rhea with the Romans adopting a similar ceremony for their equivalent deity: Magna Mater or “Great Mother”.

4. It’s not the same all over the world

Although a global celebration, Mother’s Day is not the same in every corner of the world. While the UK celebrates it in March, many other countries hold their celebrations in May while Yugoslavia mark the occasion in December! In total, 50 different countries celebrate the day.

5. The letter ‘m’

In nearly all countries and all languages, the word ‘mother’ or ‘mum’ begins with the letter ‘m’.

6. Carnations are the most popular flower given

The most common flower given to our mums on Mother’s Day is the carnation – but why? According to religion, these flowers began to grow from the ground which was marked by the tears of Mary, Mother of Jesus, during his crucifixion and have been associated with motherhood ever since.

If you want to give your mum carnations this Mother’s Day then red and pink are the traditional colour choices which represent love and adoration. White carnations are used by those unlucky enough to no longer have their mums with them.

7. Bolivia celebrates the day based on a battle

The date for Mother’s Day celebrations in Bolivia is not based on Lent or taken from other cultures but actually coincides with the day that women first participated in battle in the country. The wider meaning of the day is therefore to celebrate women in general as well as mothers.

8. Hitler loved Mother’s Day

A man who is now known for a number of atrocities, it’s strange to think that Adolf Hitler loved Mother’s Day. When he was in power he placed great emphasis on celebrating the mothers of Germany but don’t let that put you off. The day is still an important occasion to celebrate.

9. Up north they call it “Carlin(g) Sunday”

During the 17^th Century, the north of England and Scotland referred to Mothering Sunday as Carling Sunday or Carlin Sunday because pancakes made from steeped carlin peas fried in butter were traditionally served on day.

10. Mother’s Day is the busiest day for florists

Yes, Mother’s Day even beats Valentine’s Day for the number of bouquets bought as the number of orders placed rises by 40% around Mothering Sunday – well, mums do love a bunch of flowers!

Mother’s Day is also one the busiest times for eating out as a family, with restaurants in the UK often fully booked on this day.

With these 10 interesting facts in mind, you’ll never think of Mother’s Day in the way same again. It has derived from hundreds of years of tradition and now involves many bouquets of flowers and gifts. Mother’s Day is a celebration of motherhood and the woman who gave you life and raised you. Make this year’s Mother’s Day extra special by sharing your new knowledge of the celebration with your mum and spoiling her rotten!

Mother’s Day gifts

While the tradition of giving gifts on Mother’s Day is long-founded, there is plenty of flexibility over what you decide to buy.

According to Media Reach, we Brits spend an average of £27.37 on our Mother’s Day presents. We don’t only buy presents though, a total of 30 million Mother’s Day cards also get sent on Mothering Sunday whilst 46% of us message our mums on Facebook.

We aren’t the most generous gift-givers in the world though and whilst we spend almost £30 on our mums the Brazilians spend £112 on theirs! Time to up our game!

According to The Guardian newspaper the following gift ideas are most popular in the UK on Mother’s Day:

Flowers – usually daffodils but the choice is yours!
Theatre tickets – a great day out to share together
A special cake – a pretty cost effective and thoughtful idea, especially if handmade
Spa vouchers – to give mum some much needed R and R
Digital photo frame – loaded with pics of the entire family for a sentimental gift</li>
A day of housework and cleaning – well, someone else can do it for a change!

While flowers are unsurprisingly the top choice of gift it might shock you to learn that this year there is expected to be a 60% rise in the number of bouquets sent to mums. Daffodils are the usual choice of flower but that doesn’t mean you can’t look for something different to stand out. Why not pick your mum’s favorite blooms or look at long-lasting plants instead of a bouquet?

Alternatively, why not try something new altogether. Plenty of writers and poets have immortalised the holiday in their work over the years and including some popular quotes in your cards or gifts (as a framed passage perhaps) is a great idea.

Some of our favorite quotes from history and modern times include:

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love” – Stevie Wonder

“Motherhood: All love begins and ends there” – Robert Browning

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” – Abraham Lincoln

“The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Mother’s Day around the world

Mother’s Day doesn’t just have a long and varied history – it also has a universal reach that sees it celebrated in all four corners of the globe. How it is celebrated does differ from country to country. Let’s find out how.

Brazil: Mother’s Day is the most important holiday of the year with the exception of Christmas here and the Brazilians celebrate the day on the second Sunday in May. The day typically involves a number of performances by children watched by locals along with church visits thrown in too
Germany: also known as; ‘Muttertag’, Germans also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. The giving of cards is extremely popular with huge family meals and gifts also part of the celebration
Japan: another country which celebrates the day on the second Sunday, Japan use carnations to symbolise the day and represent the gentle strength of mothers. The most common meal eaten during this day is sushi and egg but mothers aren’t allowed to lift a finger as their children take on the household chores for the day
Australia: like Japan, Australians also use carnations to symbolise Mother’s Day. However, here both aunts and grandmothers are also presented with gifts and appreciation on Mother’s Day which is celebrated on the second Sunday of May
<Peru: rather than gifting flowers and chocolates, in Peru children often hand make something for their mothers as a more sentimental offering. Again, the day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May
France: known as Fete Des Meres, the French celebration takes place in late May/early June and is actually a relatively new holiday – only being celebrated since the 1950s. Believe it or not, the day was actually named an official holiday by Napoleon but just didn’t quite catch on until later. Whilst gifts are given to mothers, short poems are more commonly recited
Ethiopia: celebrated at the end of the season of rain as part of a three day Antrosht festival, Mother’s Day in Ethiopia consists of eating a large meal with daughters traditionally bringing spices, vegetables and herbs whilst sons bring the meat. Lots of singing and dancing is also common
UK: In the UK we are known for buying a huge amount of cards (30 million to be exact) and spending large amounts of money on flowers and gifts for our mums, but the rest of the world do it a bit differently…
India: India celebrates Mother’s Day in the second week of May rather than March. This is actually a fairly broad trend with many countries marking Mother’s Day around this time. The people of India spend the day thanking their mum for everything she has done for them in the previous year. This means invitations for large family meals where mum can put her feet up and stay out of the kitchen.
Spain: The Spanish celebrate Mother’s Day on the first Sunday in May – and like us Brits they love to buy cards, flowers and chocolates. For younger generations, sentiment means more than cash so cards and presents are often handmade.
New Zealand: In New Zealand you’ll find Mother’s Day being celebrated on the second Sunday in May (the same day as the Americans). Family picnics in the beautiful outdoors or big dinners in nice restaurants are common ways to celebrate with the emphasis being on bringing everyone together so mum can have a day off.
Yugoslavia: Celebrating the day in Decembern”>, Mother’s Day in Yugoslavia is marked in a very different way to the UK. In an interesting tradition, children creep into their mum’s room in the morning and tie her up. To be released from her binds, the mum must give the kids presents when she wakes up. Harmless fun that is sure to bring a smile to both the mums and kids!
Sweden: The Swedish celebrate Mother’s Day on the last Sunday of May, selling small plastic flowers just before Mother’s Day for individuals to give as gifts. They then use the money raised through these sales to send a number of mums with young children on a little holiday – a great surprise if you ask us!
Mexico: Mexicans celebrate Mother’s Day or ‘Dia de las Madres’ on the second Sunday in May. This day is hugely popular throughout the country and is celebrated both at work and at school. The tradition is for children to visit their mums on the eve of Mother’s Day and present her with handmade gifts and flowers.
Bolivia: Again, Mother’s Day in Bolivia is celebrated on the second Sunday in May but they don’t just send cards and flowers to their own mums. Instead, they send presents to their friends and family members who are mothers themselves in order to celebrate the entire concept of motherhood. That means more presents all round. Sweet!
Israel: Israel celebrates Mother’s Day on Shevat 30 of the Jewish calendar which is normally between January and March. More than just a celebration of motherhood, this day is now known as Family Day and is a time when the whole family will come together and show their love for one another.
Pakistan: Pakistan really goes to town on Mother’s Day which is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. On this day there are a number of TV shows dedicated to the day and many celebrations taking place. For those who have sadly lost their mums, they day is spent praying for their loved ones.</stron
Taiwan: Once again celebrated on the second Sunday of May, Mother’s Day has even more significance in Taiwan as it coincides with Buddha’s birthday. This makes Mother’s Day a religious celebration – meaning celebrations are far more lavish and widespread.
Italy: Italy also celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May with families getting together and flowers being given to both mothers and grandmothers.

What Mother’s Day means to us

For Brits, Mother’s Day is an important occasion during which we show appreciation and love for our mums. We consider it such an important occasion that we actually spend twice the amount of money on Mother’s Day as we do on Father’s Day later in the year (sorry dad!). The overall meaning of the holiday has never changed and it has always been about celebrating those who gave us life.

Interestingly, this might not have been the case if Julia Ward Howe had got her way. Back in the 1800s, Howe tried to change the celebration to be a day of peace. An American writer, feminist and pacifist, Julia was so passionate about her dislike of Europe joining the Franco-Prussian War so soon after her own people had endured the American Civil War that she worked tireless to make the holiday ‘Mother’s Day for Peace’ and have it celebrated on 02 June each year.

The author of Battle Hymn of the Republic, she was the woman who first opened the world’s eyes to this idea in 1872 but unfortunately found very little interest for her ideas. Only mother’s who had lost sons in combat showed support for her ideas with most males disinterested.

Nonetheless, her passion was not wasted and while ‘Mother’s Day for Peace’ never caught on, she is credited with heading the American branch of the Women’s International Peace Association which observed a day of peace as a celebration – just not one connected to Mother’s Day. So, next time you are about to take your mum for granted, remember all the good things she has done in her life and how you can thank her for them on Mother’s Day. Whether you celebrate it in March, May or any other time of the year, this is an important holiday with plenty of significance and a long history which owes a lot to the Greeks, Romans and Miss Anna Jarvis.

Sources: history.com, legacyproject.org, wikipedia.org, care.com, thedrum.com, mediareach.co.uk, theguardian.co.uk, lilyobriens.ie