Mother’s Day Traditions Around the World

Mother’s Day, while celebrated in just about all countries of the world, does not always fall on the same date. In North America, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. In the United Kingdom, the tradition dates back to Mothering Sunday, which has existed since the 16th century. It occurs on the Fourth Sunday of Lent and started with the practice of people returning to their mother church on that date to take part in the services.

The following list of dates will tell you when Mother’s Day occurs in various countries:

• Norway – the second Sunday of February
• Israel – falls on the feast of Shavat and can occur between January 30 and March 1
• Georgia – March 3
• Countries of the former USSR – March 8
• Middle Eastern countries – March 21
• Slovenia – March 25
• Nepal – begins on April 24 and continues for 5 days
• Italy, Albania and South Korea – May 8
• Paraguay – May 15
• Poland – May 26
• Bolivia – May 27
• Nicaragua – May 30
• Mongolia – June 1
• Luxembourg – the second Sunday of June
• Kenya – the last Sunday of June
• Thailand – August 12
• Costa Rica and Belgium – August 15
• Malawi – the second Sunday of October
• Belarus – October 14
• Argentina – the third Sunday of October
• Panama – December 8
•  Indonesia – December 22

 International Traditions for Mother’s Day

In Nepal, Mother’s Day is a time for honouring mothers with gifts and for remembering those who have passed away. It takes place during the month of April and is called the festival of Mata Tirtha Aunshi. It involves making a pilgrimage toward the eastern side of the Kathmandu Valley.

In Japan, the occasion of Mother’s Day began as the birthday celebration of Empress Kojun, who was the mother of Emperor Akihito. Today it is celebrated the same way as it is in North America with gifts and cards for mothers.

Carnations are the flower of choice to give on Mother’s Day in China. It was started in 1997 as a way of helping poor mothers, but is gathering more popularity among everyone in the country.

The celebration of Mother’s Day in Greece has a religious connotation as it corresponds with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.