The act, the gift and maybe the curse of being a mother is both uniquely personal and globally shared. Mothering styles, attitudes and application can vary from family to family, from country to country and everything in between. The one and only thing truly shared is love. Our friends over at Play Like Mum have produced this cool project showing the diversity and divergence of mums the world over, and it’s just great.
With such a celebration of difference, we certainly wouldn’t expect Mother’s Day to be the same the world over. The event being internationally recognised with a consistent focal point doesn’t mean we chose to revere the maternal in the same way. In fact, dates and celebrations differ hugely from country to country. With this in mind, here are our 5 IDEAL Mother’s Day celebrations from across the globe.
Russia
So keen on their mothers that they celebrate on two separate dates, the original Russian Mother’s Day fell on March 8th. This is a date of much significance as it coincides with International Women’s Day, a day promoting equality and one close to our hearts. In recent times, the date has moved to the last Sunday in November, this year falling on the 26th. Despite the calendar move, both days are observed with gifts and generosity. Maybe we could learn something from our Russian sisters and brothers and follow suit?
Mexico
One of the proudest, most respected days in the Mexican calendar, Mother’s Day here falls on the 10th of May, always. It’s a day of frenzied gift-giving, merry-making and hosting. Bookings in restaurants are essential, florists often sell-out days before and there’s even a special song, renditioned by Mariachi across the country, which is dedicated to the day. That’s some herculean effort right there.
France and Germany
The placing of mothers on pedestals here came about through government and societal initiatives to bring about more babies. Germany and France both had serious concerns about low birth rates in the early 20thCentury and conceived this day in the hope of more couples doing the same. It worked, and celebrations in May now involve huge families coming together to celebrate.
The Arab World
The majority of the Arab world share the date for Mother’s Day, originating in Egypt, on 21st March. It’s such a popular date that it’s now an unofficial national holiday – workers down tools, head to the family home and present their mothers and grandmothers with flowers, associated with the start of spring and birth, as well as gifts of food.
Argentina
Significant as it’s fast approaching, Argentina is unique in celebrating Mother’s Day on 15th October. The event is combined with a celebration of the Virgin Mary, as in common in countries with large Catholic populations. If you have an Argentinian mother, you’d better start looking for gifts, the big day is only a month away!