With Mother’s Day just around the corner, you really will not want to forget your dear old mum seeing as she is probably the most important woman in your life.
Regardless of whether you live in the United Kingdom, the United States of America or anywhere in Europe for that matter, you ought to remember when you should celebrate your mum this year.
Here is our hand guide to ensure you never again forget Mother’s Day.
When is Mother’s Day 2019?
In the United Kingdom Mothering Sunday falls on March 31st. However, in the United States as well as many other countries around the world, Mother’s Day this year will be celebrated on Sunday, May 12.
This very special day is an opportunity for individuals and their families to celebrate the love and appreciation for their mothers.
Most of us just send flowers on mother’s day without actually thinking about what it all means so here is a quick guide to the meaning behind mother’s day or mothering Sunday.
Precisely what is Mothering Sunday?
Mothering Sunday is a holiday celebrated by Christians in the United Kingdom, as well as some other places around the globe. It fails on the fourth Sunday in Lent which is three weeks before Easter Sunday. During the 16th century it was a day when people would return to visit their ‘mother’ church but these days it has become a celebration of one’s mother involving the giving them presents and flowers. During these early years, household servants were given the day off so they could return to the family homes and celebrate with them, on their way home they would pick wildflowers along the way to place in their mother church or give to their mothers. Over the years it has become more of the day we now know of children honouring their mothers and giving flowers and presents.
How come the United Kingdom has a different Mother’s Day to the United States?
The reason for this is that back in the 16th century the day was more of a religious day and would be a day when Christians would visit their ‘mother’ church during Lent. This is also why Mother’s Day in the UK can fall on different months year to year as it is tied to Easter which is calculated by the date of the Paschal Full Moon.
Why is Mother’s Day celebrated on different dates around the world?
The event in the United States was established in 1914, inspired by Anna Marie Jarvis after the death of her mother. However, she never liked the growing commercialisation of the event and even tried to get it rescinded at one point and once said
A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world
Anna Marie Jarvis
She later died in a sanatorium, rather ironically her medical bills were paid by the floral and greeting card industries!
As the US event has never been associated with Easter and as such the date does not move, so it is always on the second Sunday in May, also the US celebration launched independently and not being associated with religion is entirely dedicated to mothers.
Most other countries which celebrate Mother’s Day have since adopted the United States date of second Sunday in May.
In case you were wondering here is a list of countries who celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May every year.
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bonaire, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Dem. Rep., Congo, Rep., Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Gabon, Gambia, Greenland, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Macau, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Countries who observe Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May
What kind of presents is it best to give on Mother’s Day?
Well, there isn’t any cast in stone rules regarding what you should or shouldn’t give your mother on this special day but a lot of people will start with a wonderful breakfast in bed. Then most people these days will give a card and some fresh flowers and possible some chocolates, occasionally if they like a little tipple even a bottle of wine.