Mothers Day in Australia
In Australia, Mothers Day is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and joy. It falls on the same day as in US - on the second Sunday in the month of May and is
celebrated in a similar fashion as in US. People of Australia take Mothers Day as an opportunity to express gratitude to their mother. Children show love to their moms by gifting flowers and cards to them.
Just as in US there is a tradition of wearing carnation on Mothers Day in Australia. A colored carnation signifies that a person's mother is living while a white carnation is used to honor a deceased mother. Besides their own mothers children honor their grand mothers and other women who love and care for them as a mother does. Children ponder over the role of mothers in their lives and acknowledge the hardships their mother go through while raising them up. As a mark of respect children pamper their mother on Mothers Day by treating them with breakfast on bed and with gifts and cakes.
In Australia, Mother's Day has been commercialised to a great degree as it is in US. Marketers try to play on the emotional aspect of the festival to sell their goods. Card manufacturers and florists particularly see a high business.
In Australia, Mothers Day is celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and joy. It falls on the same day as in US - on the second Sunday in the month of May and is
celebrated in a similar fashion as in US. People of Australia take Mothers Day as an opportunity to express gratitude to their mother. Children show love to their moms by gifting flowers and cards to them.Just as in US there is a tradition of wearing carnation on Mothers Day in Australia. A colored carnation signifies that a person's mother is living while a white carnation is used to honor a deceased mother. Besides their own mothers children honor their grand mothers and other women who love and care for them as a mother does. Children ponder over the role of mothers in their lives and acknowledge the hardships their mother go through while raising them up. As a mark of respect children pamper their mother on Mothers Day by treating them with breakfast on bed and with gifts and cakes.
In Australia, Mother's Day has been commercialised to a great degree as it is in US. Marketers try to play on the emotional aspect of the festival to sell their goods. Card manufacturers and florists particularly see a high business.
Mothers Day in Canada
In North American country of Canada, Mothers Day is a the most popular festival after Christmas and Valentines Day. Just as in USA, Mothers Day in Canada is celebrated in the second Sunday in the month of May. People pay tribute to their mothers on the day and thank them for their constant support and love. In Canada, cards and flowers are the most commonly used methods of expressing love for moms.
As Mothers Day is a festival with strong emotional value, it has been commercialised to a large extent with compelling advertising strategies in the technologically advanced country of Canada. Sale of cards breaks all records on mothers day. Many people also take their mothers out for a dinner on Mothers Day and bake special cakes for them. Mothers are also pampered with gifts and day off from kitchen by their loving children.
Caring children make it a point to greet Mothers Day to their own moms, grand mothers and to women who are like their mothers. Those staying away from their mothers visit them and make them feel special. While those who cannot pay a visit call on phone. No wonder, phone traffic is highest on the occasion of Mothers Day.
Mother's Day in India
The concept of celebrating Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May is very new in India and it can be said that in a time span of less than a decade, Mothers Day has been a great success.
Mother's Day Celebration in India are slowly catching!
In the presence of umpteenth number of existing festivals, it is a remarkable achievement for a foreign festival to make its presence felt in the vast and culturally diverse country like India.
Globalisation, to a great extent has helped to make this Western, or mainly American festival to make its presence felt in India. Besides interaction of Indians with the West is at an all time high. A lot many people have been in US or have their relatives staying there. Internet and satellite revolution has made information about other cultures more accessible than ever. But the reason behind the success of Mothers Day in India can be attributed to the emotions which are attached to the festival. Mothers are mothers everywhere, they are as much loved and respected in India as in any other part of the world. Perhaps Indians have always felt the need of such a day which is devoted solely to mothers. Mothers Day gives them all the opportunity to celebrate such a day.
Time to Reflect and Rejoice
Just as in the West, Indians too take Mothers Day as a time too reflect on the importance of mothers in their life. They take it is time to think about all the pains their mother took while they were sick, the hardships she went through in bringing them up and all the sacrifices she made so that they lead a better life. Mothers Day is the time to say a big thank you to mother for all this and for being a constant guiding force in our lives.
In India, people send cards to their mamas on Mothers Day. Make a meal for Mothers so that she can have a days rest from the kitchen. Tradition of giving gifts on Mothers Day is also rampant. The whole idea of celebrating Mothers Day is to thank mother, to make her feel important on the day and be happy about mothering caring children. Mothers should be pampered on the day by children and on the whole should be given a happy Mothers Day.
Celebrations in Metropolitan and Big Cities
Awareness about Mothers Day is much greater in metros and other big and happening cities than in smaller towns. Thanks to the booming card market, who keep reminding people about when is Mothers Day and how it must be celebrated.
In the capital city of Delhi, Mothers Day is celebrated in a big way and has been commericalised to a great extent. Big companies launch various women oriented products on the day and restaurants try to lure people with attractive advertisements. Media too creates a big hype about the day with special programmes and features.
Looking at the fast pace at which the excitement for Mothers Day is growing it will not be long when the Mothers Day will be noted as the national festival of India.
Mothers Day in Ireland
In Ireland, Mothers Day is not celebrated on same day as in US. Mothers Day celebrations in Ireland takes place on the fourth Sunday in the Christian fasting month of Lent. This corresponds to the day on which Mothers Day or Mothering Sunday is celebrated in UK, a close neighbor of Ireland. While in the US Mothers Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May. But just as in scores of other countries, people in Ireland honor their mothers on the occasion of Mothers Day for all their love and affection.
History of Mother's Day in Ireland
The history of celebrating Mothering Sunday or Mothers Day in Ireland can be traced to the medieval practice where children from poor families were send to work as domestic servants and apprentices to work with the rich. Once in the year in the middle of the Lent these children were given a day off to visit their 'Mother Church' and worship Virgin Mary. After visiting the Mother Church or Cathedral of their home town these children visited their mothers and presented them with flowers they picked along the way. Girls bake special Mothering Cake on the day. Pattern of living changed after the Industrial Revolution and Mothering Sunday celebration almost lapsed. The custom was revived after World War II. Americans too helped to bring back the charm of the festival in Eurpoean countries as their tradition and way of celebrating Mothers Day spread far and wide.
Mother's Day Celebration in Ireland
On Mothers Day, people in Ireland present flowers and cards to their mothers to express love and gratitude. People take their mother out for dinners and lunches and often pamper them with breakfast in bed. Gifts are given to mothers with love from caring children. Programmes, plays and skits are organised at several places in honor of mothers..
Mothers Day in Mexico
In the North American country of Mexico, Mothers Day is celebrated on a fixed day of May 10 as opposed to the Mothers Day in US that fall on the second Sunday in the month of May.Mothers Day in Mexico is celebrated in a colorful fashion. Children honor their mothers and thank them for their efforts in bringing them up and According to a custom in Mexico, sons and daughters make themselves present in the house on the eve of Mothers Day on May 8.
Mothers Day celebration in Mexico takes place on May 10 as the day is special for the people of Mexico. The day is celebrated with gusto as churches in Mexico organise special mass. The highpoint of the event is the orchestra which plays "las mañanitas" and distribution of 'tamales' and 'atole', the traditional early-morning meal to all local mothers.
On Mother's Day people in Mexico gift flowers and cards to their mothers. There is also a tradition of giving gifts on Mothers Day. While the older children but gifts from the store the younger ones prepare handmade gifts to honor their mothers. In several schools mothers day functions are organised where little ones present skits and songs to express their gratitude for their mothers and to entertain them.
Mothers Day in New Zealand
In New Zealand Mothers Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May. This is the same day on which US celebrates its Mothers Day. And as the idea of celebrating Mothers Day in New Zealand has come from US, the manner of celebrating Mothers Day in New Zealand is much the same as that in US. On Mothers Day people of New Zealand thank their mothers and recognize their esteemed efforts in bringing them up and caring for them.
The festival of Mothers Day has turned out to be a big day for the people of New Zealand. There is a big euphoria over the day and people celebrate the day by going out for picnics and dinners. Markets see a busy time as people make it a point to buy gifts for their mothers, grand mothers and friends and relatives who are mothers. Flowers and cards business particularly flourish at this time of the year.
People also indulge their mothers by treating them with breakfast in bed and baking a Mother’s Day special cakes for them. Some also like to give their mother a days rest from the kitchen and household chores and treat them with a spa or beauty treatment..
Mothers Day in South Africa
In South Africa, Mothers Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in the month of May. This is a week before US celebrates its Mothers Day on the second
Sunday of May.People of South Africa celebrate Mother's Day in its true spirit by acknowledging the importance of mothers in their lives and thanking them profusely for all their love and care. People also gift flowers and cards to their mother as an expression of their heartfelt feeling of gratitude and affection. The most commonly used flowers on Mothers Day is the traditional carnation. People wear red or pink carnation for the mothers who are living while white carnation is used as a symbol of mothers who are dead. In South Africa, Mother's Day is taken as an opportunity to thank not just mothers but also grand mothers and women who are like mothers.
Mothers are pampered by caring children on the day. Many children treat their mother with a delicious breakfast in bed but owing to the changing lifestyles, a large number of people take their mother out for dinners. Young children present their mothers with homemade gifts while the elder ones buy gifts for their mothers.
Mothers Day in UK is celebrated with great excitement and verve but it does not fall on the same date as in US. In UK, Mother's Day celebrations takes place on the fourth Sunday in the month of Lent. Since the Lent days are not fixed, the date for mothers Day changes every year.
Mothers Day came to be celebrated in UK in 17th century as Mothering Sunday, much before the custom began in US. Today, the traditional festival of Mothering Sunday is more commonly called as Mothers Day in England and is celebrated in much the same way as it is celebrated in US. On this day children give flowers and bouquets to their mother to express their love for them.
History of Mother's Day in England
The tradition of celebrating Mothers Day began much earlier in England than it started in USA. In fact England was the first country in the world to dedicate a day for mothers as early as 1600s. They called this day for mothers as 'Mothering Sunday'. The festival has its roots in the practice wherein poor people in England send their little children to work as domestic servants or apprentice with the rich. At that time it was considered important by the people that these children, staying away from their families be allowed to visit their homes once in a year. The time decided for the annual visit to home was middle Sunday of the fasting period of Lent (which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter). For this reason, the day was called 'Refreshment Sunday' or 'Mid-Lent Sunday'.
In England the day dedicated for mothers was more commonly called Mothering Sunday as people, mainly children visited their 'Mother Church' or the church of their home and not the 'Daughter Church', the closest church in the vicinity. After paying a visit to church, children met their mothers and presented them flowers, which they gathered from bushes along the way. Girls baked special cakes called 'Simnel Cakes' for their mothers.
The tradition of Mothering Sunday stopped with the advent of Industrial Revolution in England when the working conditions and life pattern changed. Over the period of time one Sunday - 4th Sunday in Lent (3 weeks before Easter) was reserved in the honor of mothers. In the present time, original meaning of Mothering Sunday has been lost and has taken the form and name of Mothers Day in US.
Mother's Day Celebration in England
Mothers Day is celebrated in a big way in England. Children pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. An atmosphere of excitement prevail on the day and marketers make all efforts to make big profits out of the euphoria. Flowers record their maximum sale as people in England love to express their gratitude for their mothers by gifting them flowers more than anything else. Most popular flowers on Mothers Day in Great Britain are roses followed by carnations and chrysanthemums. In UK, there is also a tradition of making a rich almond cake for mothers called 'Mothering Cake' or 'Simnel Cake' on Mothers Day
Mothers Day in US
In USA Mothers Day is a national holiday and is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and gaiety. On this day people reflect on the importance of mothers in their life and thank them for their unconditional love and support Mothers and children in USA look forward to celebrate the day with each other. Besides, in United States the national flag is hoisted on every house and important buildings on the occasion of Mother's Day to honor motherhood and the mothers of the country.
History of Mother's Day in USA
History of Mothers Day in USA is not even hundred years old. It is due to the hard work and protracted struggle of a loving daughter Ms Anna Jarvis that Mothers Day was declared a national holiday by the then President of USA, President Woodrow Wilson. President Wilson designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day by signing a Joint Resolution on May 8, 1914. Founder of Mothers Day, Anna Jarvis is also known as the Mother of Mothers Day. However, it may be noted that the idea of official celebration of Mothers Day was first given by a writer - poet, Julia Ward Howe in 1872. Julia is also noted for writing words of the famous Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and Mothers Day Proclamation, written in Boston in 1870.
Mothers Day Celebration in USA
Mothers Day is celebrated in USA in a big way and has been commercialized to a great extent. It is considered as the next big day after Christmas and Valentines Day. Phone lines record a heavy traffic and card sales reaches its peak. Restaurants are filled to their maximum capacity as children don't want their mothers to cook on their special day.
At home children express love for their mother by treating their moms with breakfast in the bed or making a sumptuous lunch. Tradition of gifting flowers and gifts is also rampant. More commonly gifted flowers are carnations are these are the official flower of Mothers Day. People buy red or pink carnations for the mothers who are living and place white carnations on the grave of the mothers who are dead. Children also present skits, plays and song in honor of their mother. Some also make cards and gifts at home to show their gratitude for their mother.
Source: mothersdaycelebration.com
