Fundoo Times
Mother's day is celebrated worldwide to honour a mother's deeds and to exhibit her importance. Following article throws light on various customs and traditions associated with the Mother's Day.

Mother's Day Traditions

Mother's Day is celebrated worldwide in order to acknowledge the sacrifice mother does for the upbringing of her children. The day is of very keen interest to marketers also because they see it as an opportunity to create a niche and market their products and services. Thanks to these marketers; because of their continuous efforts the day is celebrated with great zeal in many countries, which earlier were not aware about the day. Every country celebrates the day in different way, depending on their traditions. Many countries have declared it as a public holiday while others treat it as an unofficial holiday. Many other countries relate it with religion. Following lines discuss the relevance and tradition of the day in different countries. Check it out.

Mother's Day Customs

United States of America
United States of America celebrates Mother's Day on second Sunday of May every year. It is celebrated with full energy and creativity. A holiday on Mother's Day is a gift of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Jarvis. History relates the day to Julia Ward Howe and Ann Jarvis. So, how did it happen?

The very first step was taken by Julia Ward Howe, when she called women in support of disarmament by issuing her very first Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870. Anna Jarvis also joined the wave to realize her mother's dream to honour mothers for their commitment and dedication towards their families. Year 1914 proved to be a successful year and the then President, President Woodrow Wilson recognized the day as public holiday. Anna Jarvis was titled as the 'Mother of Mothers' Day'. As the time passed, the day got highly commercialized and the creator of the day was herself regretting for her efforts to recognize the day. On this day, Americans wear colourful carnations to show love and respect to their mothers and white carnations for the deceased mothers. They also record highest church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter.

Australia
Australia celebrates the day of mothers on the same day as United States of America-the second Sunday of May. Story and person behind this celebration differ from the US. It was Mrs. Janet Hayden, a resident of Leichhardt, Sydney; who used to visit her patients in Newington State Home for Woman. In order to provide adequate facilities to lonely and forgotten mothers, she started approaching local businessmen and schools. She requested them to support and bring gifts for those lonely mothers. Traditionally, the celebration includes giving mothers chrysanthemum, a flower which is usually found in autumn. With time, it became commercialized. Like Americans, Australians also wear carnations to show love and respect towards their mothers.

France
Struggling against low birth rates, France attempted to honour mothers of large families in 1896 and 1904. By 1920, French Government officialised the day in honour of mothers of large families. The mothers of small families also received the honour in 1941 by the wartime Vichy Government of Philippe Petain. This initiative formed a platform to celebrate Mother's Day in France. The celebration includes gifting bouquet shaped cake to mother as a token of love. The day comes to an end with a dinner to pay homage to her contributions and dedication towards the family.

India
Mother's Day, a concept very new to India is rapidly spreading across the country, thus making a place among other major festivals of India. A festival borrowed from west is being liked by Indian youth. Enriched with family values and feelings; the Indian youth finds it easy to relate to this day. That is why within a decade, the day has gained popularity in India. Indians plan surprise dinners, bed breakfasts, loving cards, and other gifts for their mothers. Those who work on Sundays try to take out time from their busy schedule to spend whole day with their mother and make the day memorable for them.

Mexico
Mexico, the North American country celebrates Mother's Day on May 10 of every year. The celebration includes early morning meal 'Tamales' and 'Atoles' for mothers. Mexico also has a tradition to play orchestra that plays 'las mananitas', which is famous among Mexican people. A tradition is always backed by a history. So, what was the history of mother's day in Mexico? Initially, the day was seen as a day to promote the conservative role of woman as a mother to her family. It was highly opposed by socialist activists because it was giving birth to disparities in the society. Later, the day took a patriotic face and sooner it became a day to celebrate motherhood, and pay homage to dear mothers. The day celebration today includes presenting homemade gifts, flowers bouquets, and cards to shower love and care to mothers; and to say thank you mom for bearing all the pains you had while bringing me up.