What began as a quiet expression of gratitude has evolved into a global phenomenon, uniting cultures in honoring maternal figures and the profound emotional bonds they foster. Mother’s Day, celebrated across diverse dates and customs, embodies humanity’s enduring respect for nurturing care, a tradition stretching from ancient fertility rituals to today’s multi-billion dollar floral and gift industries. From the initial earnest campaigns for social recognition in the United States to celebratory feasts in Mexico, the observance acknowledges the essential, life-shaping role mothers play worldwide.

The impulse to venerate motherhood is anything but new. Historically, numerous cultures consecrated powerful goddesses associated with creation, fertility, and protection. Ancient Greece honored Rhea, the mother of the Olympians, with offerings of flowers and cakes, acknowledging the wellspring of life she represented. Similarly, Roman citizens celebrated the Matronalia in March to pay tribute to Juno, the goddess of women and childbirth, a day when men bestowed tokens upon their mothers and wives. Later, figures like Egypt’s Isis and Mesopotamia’s Ninhursag were revered as life-giving maternal deities, emphasizing that the mother was seen not just as a familial figure, but as a crucial symbol of sustenance and societal continuity.

From Advocacy to Official Holiday

The modern iteration of the holiday has specific roots in 19th-century American social activism. Ann Reeves Jarvis spearheaded “Mother’s Work Days” in the 1850s, utilizing the communal focus to address pressing public health issues and improve local welfare. Following her mother’s death, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, passionately campaigned for a formal, nationally recognized day to honor mothers personally and universally. Her tireless efforts culminated in President Woodrow Wilson officially designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914.

While envisioned as a private, sentimental observance—marked by handwritten letters, poems, and sincere gestures—the holiday quickly gained global traction, adapting to local traditions but often becoming increasingly commercialized. Despite Jarvis’s later dismay over the shift toward consumerism, the exchange of gifts, chocolates, and greeting cards remains a central feature, reflecting a worldwide desire to visibly manifest appreciation.

Global Traditions and Symbolic Meanings

The annual observance is rich with symbolism, perhaps most notably through the use of flowers. Anna Jarvis selected the carnation as the official bloom: red symbolizing admiration for living mothers, and white honoring those who had passed. Roses, particularly pink and yellow varieties, further express enduring love and joy. These floral tributes act as living metaphors, representing the qualities of beauty, nurturing, and continuous growth often associated with maternal figures.

Mother’s Day is celebrated on varying dates across the globe, each occasion imbued with distinct customs:

• United States and Canada: Second Sunday in May, marked by family gatherings and brunch.
• United Kingdom: Mothering Sunday in March, which originated as a religious tradition of returning to one’s “mother church” and evolved into a family day of appreciation.
• Mexico: Día de las Madriess on May 10th involves robust community celebrations, music, and elaborate family feasting.
• Ethiopia: The multi-day Antrosht festival in the fall honors mothers via special meals and family cohesion.

Despite the differences in timing and ritual, the underlying theme is universal: acknowledging the labor of caregiving and expressing profound gratitude for maternal sacrifice and guidance.

The holiday serves as a vital psychological and social ritual, strengthening familial bonds through symbolic acts—be it preparing a meal or giving a keepsake. Celebrating motherhood, from its ancient recognition as a central force of creation to its modern role in emotional and societal stability, remains an annual homage to one of humanity’s most foundational and crucial relationships.

flower show 2025