How is Mother's Day celebrated around the world? 🌏

In France, Mother’s Day is often associated with small creative projects made by children at school, carefully picked bouquets, or Sunday family lunches. Yet behind this well-known celebration lie very different traditions across countries around the world.

Some ways of celebrating Mother’s Day go back centuries, others are linked to historical or religious figures, and some even take the form of real festivals! In all cases, one thing remains the same: everywhere in the world, the role of mothers holds a special place in people’s hearts, and it is always expressed in one way or another, no matter where you are.

So for this new Mother’s Day, the Tajinebanane team takes you on a journey through five cultures that celebrate mothers too, each in their own unique way. 💛

1. In the United Kingdom, a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages 🏰

Long before Mother’s Day became what we know today, people in the UK were already celebrating Mothering Sunday: a tradition whose earliest traces date back to the Middle Ages, even though it wasn’t originally dedicated to mothers.

At the time, worshippers were encouraged to return to their “mother church” on the fourth Sunday of Lent — the church where they had been baptised, which held a special place in their spiritual lives. Over time, this day gradually became an opportunity to return home and visit one’s family, especially one’s mother.

Today, greeting cards, flowers, and family meals have replaced religious pilgrimages, but the name Mothering Sunday has remained. It is also one of the oldest Mother’s Day traditions in the Western world.

2. Au Mexique, la fête des mères met tout le pays à l’arrêt 🇲🇽

If there is one country where Mother’s Day is taken very seriously, it is undoubtedly Mexico. Every year, Día de las Madres is celebrated on May 10th, regardless of the day of the week. This fixed date has been observed since 1922 and is now deeply rooted in Mexican culture.

In most households, the celebrations begin as soon as the day starts. In some families, you might even hear Las Mañanitasbeing sung early in the morning — performed by children, or even mariachis who come to wake mothers up with music.

And if you ever find yourself in Mexico on May 10th, you’ll notice that restaurants are often fully booked days in advance, schools host performances dedicated to mothers, and many masses are held in honour of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a symbol of motherhood.

As you can see, May 10th is a true nationwide celebration in Mexico, bringing together several generations across the country.

3. In Japan, carnations tell a story 🌸

In Japan, Mother’s Day is called Haha no Hi (“Mother’s Day”), and it has been celebrated on the second Sunday of May since World War II (just like in the United States). However, earlier celebrations already existed. In the 1930s, for example, the country marked the birthday of Empress Kojun, mother of the emperor at the time.

Today, flowers take center stage. In Japan, the carnation has become the true symbol of maternal love, gentleness, and gratitude. In the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day, florist shop windows are filled with floral arrangements specially designed for the occasion. 💐

In Japan, the focus is not on extravagant gifts, but rather on heartfelt gestures. This reflects a deeply rooted cultural value, where expressing gratitude to one’s parents for their daily efforts is considered essential.

So if you ever celebrate Mother’s Day in Japan, a simple bouquet of carnations can carry far more meaning than you might expect. 💮

4. In Thailand, Mother’s Day is also a national holiday 💙

The Thai celebration has a rather unique feature: it is directly tied to the country’s modern history. In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on August 12th, the birthday of Queen Sirikit. For decades, she has been regarded as a maternal figure for the nation, which led to her birthday being associated with a tribute to all Thai mothers.

On this occasion, the entire country is decorated in blue, the colour traditionally associated with the Queen. In addition, Thai people usually offer jasmine flowers to their mothers, as the flower’s white colour symbolises love and purity.

Across the country, public ceremonies, community events, and light displays are organised in many cities to honour motherhood. In some places, children even take part in rituals where they kneel before their mothers to express their gratitude. While this may seem very solemn from a European perspective, it reflects an important cultural value in Thailand: the deep respect given to parents and elders.

5. In Ethiopia, several days of singing, dancing, and reunions 🎶

The Ethiopian celebration is probably one of the most unique in this overview. In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day is celebrated after the rainy season, during a three-day festival called Antrosht.

During this event, families come together to celebrate mothers around large communal meals that children often prepare for them. For the occasion, children who live far from home sometimes travel long distances to return to their families. Each person brings ingredients that will be used to prepare this shared meal, and the festival continues for several days.

Singing plays an essential role in Antrosht. Girls often perform songs in honour of their mothers, while men take part in the celebrations through music and dance. In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day is therefore not focused on gifts, but on coming together and celebrating the bond between generations. 🌳

Whether it is celebrated with a bouquet of carnations in Japan, a big family meal in Mexico, or a family gathering in Ethiopia, Mother’s Day ultimately tells the same story around the world: the bond between a mother and her children.

Yes, the dates and traditions vary from one culture to another, but the intention remains the same: to take a moment to thank, celebrate, and honour those who give so much to their children. 🤱

At Tajinebanane, this idea resonates deeply with us, because behind every culture, every tradition, and every celebration, there are mothers who deserve to be celebrated, supported, and cared for all year round… not just on Mother’s Day. 💛

@tajinebanane
Written by Bertrand Lamy