To make every mother feel special
The modern tradition of Mother’s Day is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March, April, or May as a day completely dedicated to honor and give thanks to mothers. However mankind has been honoring mothers since times dating back to ancient Greece and Asia minor where mother goddesses were worshipped and prayed to.Each country and culture adopted the tradition in a different way, giving it different meanings and associations, even celebrating the holiday on different days.
Mother’s Day in Italy was celebrated for the first time on May 12, 1957, in the city of Assisi, thanks to the initiative of Rev. Otello Migliosi, parish priest of the Tordibetto church. This celebration was so successful that the following year it was adopted throughout Italy, where since then it is usually celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
France.
In 1918, the town of Lyon celebrated “la journée des Mères” as a tribute to the mothers and wives of soldiers killed in the first World War. The French government officialised the day in 1929, and in 1941 the wartime Vichy government celebrated it as part of their policy to encourage larger families. The law of 24 May 1950 required that the Republic Oyun Ä°ndir – Yükle pay official homage to French Mothers on the last Sunday in May as the “Fête des Mères” (except when Pentecost fell on that day, in which case it was moved to the first Sunday in June). A budget was provided for the celebration in 1956, and responsibility was transferred to the Minister responsible for Families in 2004.
Brazil
In Brazil, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.The first Mother’s Day in the country was promoted by Associação Cristã de Moços de Porto Alegre (Young Men’s Christian Association of Porto Alegre), on May 12, 1918. In 1932, the then-President Getulio Vargas made official the date on the second Sunday of May. In 1947, Archbishop Jaime de Barros Chamber, Cardinal-Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, determined that this date was also included in the official calendar of the Catholic Church.
China
The day is becoming more popular in China, and carnations are a very popular gift and the most sold type of flower. In 1997 it was set as the day to help poor mothers, specially to remind people of the poor mothers in rural areas such as China’s western region. People in China take the holiday with no hesitance because it goes in line with the country’s traditional ethics – respect to the elderly and filial piety to parents.
Most African Countries
Many African countries adopted the idea of one Mother’s Day from the British tradition, although there are many festivals and events celebrating mothers within the many diverse cultures on the African continent that long pre-date the colonization of Africa by European powers.
Australia
In Australia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. It is not a public holiday, nor is it known as a holiday.
The tradition of gift giving to mothers on Mother’s Day in Australia was started by Mrs Janet Heyden a resident of Leichhardt Sydney, in 1924. She began the tradition during a visit to a patient at the Newington State Home for woman, where she met many lonely and forgotten mothers. To cheer them up, she rounded up support from local school children and businesses to donate and bring gifts to the women. Every year thereafter, more support was raised by Janet with local businesses and even the local Mayor. The day has since become commercialized as it is to this day.
