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Mother’s Day
Origins, dates and gift ideas
All you need to know about Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a special day celebrated in many countries around the world. The date varies from country to country, depending on customs and tradition. Find out everything you need to know about this special day.
The origins of Mother's Day
The first Mother’s Day celebrations began in Greek mythology. Indeed, ancient Greece honoured the “Great Mother” in spring in connection with the goddess Rhea. She is the mother of many deities, the most famous of which are Poseidon, Hera and Zeus. During these celebrations, the Greeks praised the fertility of the earth, motherhood and fertility. The ceremony is held in mid-March of the Roman calendar.
On the other hand, the first celebrations of the mother herself are attributed to the Romans. They celebrated many religious holidays, two of which were related to motherhood and fertility. On March 1st, the Romans celebrated Matronalia, in honour of married women and mothers. On March 25th, they celebrated Hilaria in honour of Cybele, the Greek equivalent of Rhea.
During Christianity, motherhood was not particularly celebrated despite the existence of many festivals relating to the Virgin Mary . Only one festival refers to motherhood, namely Laetare Sunday. It is held on the 4th Sunday of Lent. It has long been the equivalent of Mother’s Day for the English and Irish.
The celebration of the mother came back into focus in 1870 in the United States. The holiday was positioned as promoting peace through mothers. Years later, Anna Jarvis promoted Mother’s Day throughout the United States and obtained an official day to celebrate it in 1914.
The date of Mother's Day in different countries
Mother’s Day is not celebrated on the same date around the world. The day of celebration depends on the customs and traditions of each country and the influences of their neighbours. Some countries celebrate it on a fixed date. Georgia, for example, celebrates on March 3rd.
Many countries have a variable date, which changes every year. In Portugal, for example, Mother’s Day is held on the first Sunday in May. In France, it falls on the last Sunday in May. There is an exception if Pentecost falls on the same day. In this case, it is moved to the first Sunday in June. Former French colonies have followed the same date.
Many countries, including Canada, Germany, Belgium and the United States, celebrate it on the second Sunday in May. Finally, the United Kingdom and Ireland still hold Mothering Sunday, an ancient Christian holiday, to celebrate Mother’s Day. It is held three weeks before Easter.
Mother's Day in France and Belgium
Contrary to popular belief, historians refute the idea that Mother’s Day was introduced by Marshal Pétain in 1942. On the contrary, the first celebrations date back to 1906 in Isère. It was initially intended for mothers of large families. On this occasion, they received a prize for high maternal merit.
For its part, the city of Lyon, inspired by the United States, first celebrated Mother’s Day in 1918. It paid tribute to the wives and mothers who had lost their loved ones during the First World War. This day was made official in 1929 by the government.
In 1942, in the middle of the war, Marshal Pétain made Mother’s Day official, while encouraging French women to have children in order to boost the birth rate. This policy continued in the years following. A law established on the 24th of May 1950 formalised the tribute to mothers and the date was set for the fourth Sunday in May.
In Belgium, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. This is also true for other European countries such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark. Germany was the first country to make this date official in Europe, following the American model. Other countries like Belgium followed this trend.
Although most of Belgium celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, the people of Antwerp celebrate it on the 15th of August. This was introduced in 1913 by Frans Van Kryck, an Antwerp alderman, who proposed that St. Mary’s Day should become Mother’s Day.
Mother's Day gift ideas
Mother’s Day is decried by many people as a commercial celebration. However, this is no reason not to give your mother a Mother’s Day gift. It is a special day when you can make her happy.
There is no shortage of Mother’s Day gift ideas for the occasion. Jewellery or jewellery boxes are always a safe bet. If you want to give her a lasting gift, it is best to opt for precious metal models.
Books are also ideal for book lovers. You can choose a book to for books on cooking or gardening has a particular passion for these areas. On the other hand, if she is a literature fan, you can give her a novel by her favourite author. And for an eco-responsible gift, why not buy a second-hand book? Le Pêle-Mêle, located at Chaussée de Waterloo 566, 1050 Ixelles, offers a very wide choice.
Mothers with a sweet tooth will be delighted with a box of chocolate assortments. Chocolatier et Cacaofèvier Benoît Nihant, Chaussée de Waterloo 506, 1050 Ixelles, offers creations for all tastes.
A candle is always a very welcome gift. Elegant and refined, it creates a warm atmosphere and gives a sense of well-being and relaxation – the perfect gift to help mothers take a well-deserved break.
Flowers are always the perfect gift
Flowers have always been a symbol of beauty. Each flower symbolises a particular message or emotion. Its meaning can change depending on its colour, composition or number.
Giving flowers is a universal language to express a positive emotion towards someone. They are given on many occasions such as a birth, a birthday, an invitation, a wedding, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Grandma’s Day, Mother’s Day or just as a simple way to show one cares.
Many flowers are well suited to this celebration. However, we encourage you to pay particular attention to your choice of flowers and their environmental impact. For example, the rose is produced mainly in Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia and Ecuador. This flower, although extremely popular, has negative environmental impact due to its bad carbon footprint and high need for water and heat for its production.
The rose currently represents 62% of the flowers sold in a florist’s shop, but Monsieur Fleur has chosen to favour seasonal flowers over the rose, with a target of 30% rose sales.
Which alternative to choose? For Mother’s Day, the queen of seasonal flowers is the peony. With its varied colours and fragrance, this flower celebrates feminine beauty and sincerity. It also symbolises protection. Qualities that can be associated with the mother. Moreover, it blooms from April to June.
The lily is also an excellent alternative to the rose. It is a chic and elegant flower with white petals. In addition, this flower symbolises friendliness. Giving a bouquet of lilies is a way of telling your mother that she is the pillar of the family.
And why not give a bouquet of dried flowers? This trendy option will continue to beautify her home long after Mother’s Day has passed. Choose dried flowers with no additives for a beautiful, natural and eco-friendly gift.
Another great option is to give a potted plant. You will have plenty of choice in seasonal flowering plants such as Hydrangea, Turmeric, Bougainvillea, Fuchsia, Dipladenia, Orchids and Roses. This beautiful alternative to a bouquet is a gift that your mother can enjoy for a long time, while thinking of you.