Happy Mother’s Day to all who are being celebrated today.

I’ll spend this morning being spoiled by my husband and boys and then we’ll head off to celebrate with the elder generations of nurturers. It will be a full, loving day.

In many parts of the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated today, the second Sunday of May.  However, this date is not universal and several countries honour their mothers (or women in general) on alternative dates.

The United Kingdom and Ireland, for instance observe Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday in Lent.

Several ex-communist countries such as Russia, Serbia and Romania celebrate their mothers on International Women’s Day on March 8.

On May 10, 1922 the Mexico City newspaper El Excelsior joined with the Mexican women’s magazine, El Hogar and the Association of Catholic Ladies to promote motherhood and its importance to religion and upholding traditional values.   In the mid-1930s the government of Lázaro Cárdenas promoted the holiday as a “patriotic festival” and by the 1940s, Soledad Orozco García, the wife of President Manuel Ávila Camacho, promoted the occasion, making it an important state-sponsored celebration.  Guatemala and El Salvador would later adopt the holiday from their northern neighbour.

In Paraguay, motherhood and independence are celebrated on May 15 (Dia de la Patria). This date was chosen to honour the contribution of Juana María de Lara to the proclamation of Paraguay’s independence.

Bolivia also celebrates the role some extraordinary women played in achieving its independence.  May 27, 1812 the brave Heroines of Coronilla (Cochabamba), took up arms and rose up in defence of the region.  Hundreds on women were killed that day, but their country remembers and honours them still by celebrating Mother’s Day (also known as the “Day of the Heroines of Coronillas”) on May 27.

And why is May so popular for celebrating Moms?

Many countries, where Catholicism was/ is the pre-dominant religion, observe Mother’s Day in May as it is also the month of the Virgin Mary.

Whatever day of the year, our mothers should be celebrated.  🙂🙂

Wherever are you in the world, I wish you a Happy Mother’s Day.