What is Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is a celebration that honours the mother of the family.

It is celebrated in over 40 countries around the world.

 When did Mother’s Day start?
There are many stories about how Mother’s Day started and it is said to have
started thousands of years ago. The main and most recent story is about a peace
activist called Anna Jarvis.
Who Was Anna Jarvis?
Anna Jarvis started Mother’s Day in the USA. She is
known as the “Mother of Mother’s Day”.

She began campaigning for Mother’s Day to become a

recognised holiday in 1905. Mother’s Day was first
celebrated in 1908 when Anna held a memorial service
for her mum.

Photo courtesy of (Olairian@commons.wikimedia.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

 When Did Mother’s Day Start?
By 1911, all of the American states agreed that Mother’s Day would become a
holiday.

Although Anna was happy at this, she became unhappy at how commercial the
holiday became. She was disappointed by how companies were profiting from the
day and believed that people should share their love for their mum by writing
personal notes and creating hand-made cards.
Mother’s Day Around the World…
UK
Mother's Day is often known as
Mothering Sunday. In the past, once a
year, during Lent, people would visit
their home or "mother" church. It
became a time for family reunions and
celebrations that were fondly cherished.
Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent,
Mothering Sunday remains a time to say
thank you to mothers for all their love
and encouragement with flowers,
chocolates, cards and other tokens of
appreciation.
Mother’s Day Around the World…
USA and Australia

In Australia and the USA, Mother’s Day

is celebrated on the second Sunday in
May.

There is a special tradition of wearing a

carnation flower on Mother’s Day.

People show their love and appreciation

for their mothers and other female
members of the family by giving
presents of flowers, chocolates and
making them breakfast in bed.
Mother’s Day Around the World…
India
In India, there is also a big emphasis on
saying thank you to mums on Mother’s
Day.

Hindus celebrate mothers in a ten-day

festival called Durga Puja.
Durga comes from the name of a goddess
who is known as the “Universal Mother”.

This goddess protects people from evil.

Mother’s Day Around the World…
Spain

Shops all over Spain sell gifts to

celebrate Mother’s Day.
It is known as Día de la Madre.

Mother’s Day in Spain is celebrated on

the first Sunday in May. It used to take
place on the 8th of December until 1965
but was moved so it did not take place
too close to Christmas.
Mother’s Day Around the World…
Japan
Haha-no-hi means Happy Mother’s Day
in Japanese.

Young children draw pictures called "My

Mother" and enter them into an art show.
These pictures are then shown all over
the world in a special Mother’s Day
exhibit.
Mother’s Day Around the World…
Sweden

Mother’s Day in Sweden is celebrated on

the last Sunday in May.
Small plastic flowers are sold before this
special day.
Any profit that is made is used to send
mothers that have lots of children on
holiday.
Mother’s Day Around the World…
Mexico
Mother's Day, or Dia de las Madres, is
on 10th May. Traditionally, sons and
daughters come to their mother's house
on the eve of Mother's Day (9th May).

Festive Mother's Day masses, handmade

gifts, flowers, cards and children's'
school presentations are often part of the
day’s festivities.
 How Will You Be Celebrating
Mother’s Day?
Think of one thing you could do to show your mum, grandmother or another
woman in your life that cares for you, how much you appreciate them.