Today, Sunday 10th May, is Mother’s Day, a day for each family to celebrate its mother. But do you know the origin of Mother’s Day and the fact that while it is Mother’s Day in the USA and many other countries, other countries including the UK and France celebrate Mother’s Day on different dates?
Mother’s Day was invented by the American Anna Jarvis on May 12th 1907 to commemorate her mother two years after her death. She then set out to create a recognized public holiday and succeeded by 1914. Mother’s Day rapidly became commercial in nature, which Ms. Jarvis vigorously campaigned against, in particular objecting to sending ready-printed cards. “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A petty sentiment!”, she was quoted as saying. Ouch!
Here in France Mother’s Day falls on the last Sunday of May unless that Sunday is Pentecost in which case it’s the first Sunday of June. In the UK Mother’s Day is the fourth Sunday of Lent (March 22nd this year). In fact there are over 30 “Mother’s Days” in the world.
Now I’m Scottish and Heidi is Austrian while we live in France. So what do we do? Heidi uses the Austrian date which is the same as the US date, and I use the French date, even though my mum still lives in Scotland. She’s actually amused to receive flowers almost 3 months after everyone else lol.
So wherever you are in the world, Happy Mother’s Day!
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