Mothers Day In Different Countries

Mothers day is celebrated in various different ways across the world and even on different days. For example, the majority of Arab countries celebrate it on March 21st - a tradition first introduced by an Egyptian journalist called Mustafa Amin in 1943 in a book called Smiling America. At the time, nobody listened but when he later began to actively promote Mothers Day it was ridiculed by the president at the time before it went on to become more popular, finally being accepted in 1956. This was then picked up by other Arab countries. Despite attempts to rename the day to "Family Day” after Amin was charged, jailed and tortured for allegedly spying for the US in an attempt to distance it from it’s founder, the day lived on as Mothers Day and continues to do so.

In Australia, Mothers Day is not classed as a public holiday nor is it officially recognised but it is generally celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Mothers Day in Australia goes back to 1924, which was started by Janet Heyden who met lonely mothers in a care home in Sydney. In order to make their lives better, Janet collected money from local residents to purchase what became annual gift of mothers day flowers and presents. As well as Mothers Day flowers, it has become tradition for Australians to make their mothers breakfast in bed. The traditional Mothers Day flower of Australia is the Chrysanthemum as it is the flower naturally in season during Spring.

The day is becoming increasingly popular in China with the traditional Mothers Day flower being carnations. With a much more recent history, China only began to adopt the day in 1997 to help poor mothers particularly in the rural areas. The government ran an article in their paper the "People’s Daily” stating that "DESPITE originating in the United States, people in China accept the holiday because it is in line with their traditional ethics”.

Elsewhere in Asia, the Philippines also celebrate the holiday with their gifts often being a lot more generous than some countries. As well as the traditional Mothers Day flowers, they often take their mothers out for meals, to shopping malls, spas, massage parlors etc.

The United Kingdom has celebrated Mothers Day in some form for hundreds of years with it’s origins going back to the 16th century, although it’s more commercial form is much more recent. One difference is that they celebrate on the fourth Sunday of Lent which this year fell in April. They celebrate in a similar manner to the United States, often giving their mothers gifts and special Mothers Day flowers and bouquets.