By Katherine Van Der Kellen
Each spring, mothers of many cultures across the globe are thrust into the spotlight for a Sunday in which they’re recognized for all the magnificent roles and functions they perform as Moms. This year, Mother’s Day in Canada falls on Sunday, May 9.
As a day of observance, Mother’s Day was made official in 1908 when Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia held a Memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church. The campaign to make Mother’s Day official was not easy; Anna’s mother had actually passed three years earlier in 1905, and it took that long for this observance day to be formally recognized.
Around the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated in different ways and on different dates. What we here in Canada and The United States know as Mother’s Day falls each year on the second Sunday in May. Other countries which honour Mom on this same day include Australia, China, Japan, Germany, India, Austria, Ukraine, Czechia, Italy, The Netherlands, Finland, Brazil, Denmark, Colombia, Croatia and New Zealand. The most popular time-honoured rituals in these nations is the giving of Mother’s Day cards, presents and flowers, along with brunches or dinners and phone calls from those unable actually to be with their Mom in person.
In other countries, Mother’s Day is recognized in different ways which include:
Argentina: 3rd Sunday of October. The only country in the world to celebrate on this date. Originally, Argentinians celebrated Mother’s Day on October 11 (regardless of the day of the week) to be aligned with the Catholic liturgical date of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was changed in 1965 to January 1.
Egypt: March 21. This date was designated as it coincides with the First Day of Spring. Again, it wasn’t an easy task for this observation day to be incorporated. It was introduced as a concept by journalist Mustafa Amin in 1943, but gained no traction nor acceptance by the government until 13 years later in 1956. Traditions include songs dedicated to mothers which many resisted, citing the need to recognize the entire family, but eventually Moms won out.
Hungary: 1st Sunday of May. One of the earliest nations to adopt Mother’s Day formally, but not celebrate it on the most popular date. It was first celebrated in this nation in 1925 as organized by the Hungarian Red Cross Youth.
United Kingdom and Ireland: 4th Sunday of Lent. Distinguishable but related to Mother’s Day is the customary Mothering Sunday celebrated in the British Isles. In 2021, this commemorative day already occurred on March 14. It recognizes not only mothers themselves but “mother churches”, that is, the precise locations of where Christians were baptized. The tradition of individuals making the trip to visit their mother church harkens all the way back to the late 15th century. After inconsistent levels of recognition for hundreds of years, it was revitalized in 1913 by Constance Adelaide Smith to honour the mother church, mothers of earthly homes, Mary, the mother of God, and finally Mother Nature.
