Mother's Day is celebrated in one way or another in over forty countries around the world. It is celebrated at various times of year, in a multitude of different ways and for many different reasons.
Here in the United Kingdom, Mother's Day was celebrated in March, and in the United States and in many other countries around the world, it will be celebrated this Sunday on May 12th. From the Bahamas to Brazil, from Tonga to Hong Kong and from Puerto Rico to the Philippines, many people will use this Sunday to show their mothers how much they appreciate their love and support.
The origins of Mother's Day vary from country to country. In Bolivia, for example, 'El Dia de la Madre Boliviana' is celebrated on the 27th of May. It is celebrated on this day in order to commemorate a specific battle in the Bolivian War of Independence, on May 27th 1812, when many Bolivian women were killed in battle.
The day's origins in France are particularly interesting. In the early 1900s, French leaders became worried about the declining birth rate in the country. In order to try to increase the birthrate and to encourage women to have more children, they started to honour the mothers of large families by handing out medals. It wasn't until the 1940s that it became a day to celebrate all mothers and not just those who bore multiple children.
The Israeli Mother's Day is celebrated between January 30th and March 1st on Shevat 30 in the Jewish calendar. It started as a commemoration of the day that Henrietta Szold died. Szold had played a key role during the Second World War helping to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis.
In Ireland, Mother's Day has religious roots. and falls on the fourth Sunday in lent. It began because those working as servants were encouraged to go back to their Mother Church on this day and then, afterwards, they would go visit their mothers. It is also considered to be a celebration of the Virgin Mary.
It's not only the origins of Mother's Day which vary from country to country but also celebrations of the day. Mother's Day celebrations in the United Kingdom and the United States tend to be fairly similar to each other: mothers are often treated to breakfast in bed, they're made cards by their children and receive gifts of chocolate and flowers. Food often plays a central role in Mother's Day celebrations: in Italy mothers are made a heart-shaped cake, in Ethiopia (where celebrations last for three days!) boys bring gifts of meat while girls bring gifts of vegetables and fruit, and in France cakes decorated with flowers are often given.
In fact, flowers play a central role in celebrations around the world. In both the United Kingdom and the United States, flowers are often given as gifts. In Australia, many people wear red carnations on Mother's Day as a mark of love and respect. However, a white carnation is worn if one's mother is no longer alive. Red carnations are also given in China on Mother's Day.
Modern day celebrations of Mother's Day are, evidently, diverse and it has evolved in many different cultures for a wide range of reasons. What is clear, is that it remains an important acknowledgement of the hard work, love and support that mothers provide.
Katie's Cards is a family-run ecard business based in Teddington, UK. Their website contains a selection of over 200 ecards suitable for all occasions from wedding e cards to birthday e cards to Diwali e cards. Ecards provide an eco-friendly alternative to sending printed cards as no resources are needed to make the cards nor to print them. Ecards are therefore a useful tool for reducing your carbon footprint either as a business or as an individual. For a small fee, Katie's Cards members can send unlimited ecards throughout the duration of their membership thus providing a very economical way of keeping in touch with family and friends.
St. Patrick's Day celebrations across the country by The Washington Post
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7709906
Here in the United Kingdom, Mother's Day was celebrated in March, and in the United States and in many other countries around the world, it will be celebrated this Sunday on May 12th. From the Bahamas to Brazil, from Tonga to Hong Kong and from Puerto Rico to the Philippines, many people will use this Sunday to show their mothers how much they appreciate their love and support.
The origins of Mother's Day vary from country to country. In Bolivia, for example, 'El Dia de la Madre Boliviana' is celebrated on the 27th of May. It is celebrated on this day in order to commemorate a specific battle in the Bolivian War of Independence, on May 27th 1812, when many Bolivian women were killed in battle.
The day's origins in France are particularly interesting. In the early 1900s, French leaders became worried about the declining birth rate in the country. In order to try to increase the birthrate and to encourage women to have more children, they started to honour the mothers of large families by handing out medals. It wasn't until the 1940s that it became a day to celebrate all mothers and not just those who bore multiple children.
The Israeli Mother's Day is celebrated between January 30th and March 1st on Shevat 30 in the Jewish calendar. It started as a commemoration of the day that Henrietta Szold died. Szold had played a key role during the Second World War helping to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis.
In Ireland, Mother's Day has religious roots. and falls on the fourth Sunday in lent. It began because those working as servants were encouraged to go back to their Mother Church on this day and then, afterwards, they would go visit their mothers. It is also considered to be a celebration of the Virgin Mary.
It's not only the origins of Mother's Day which vary from country to country but also celebrations of the day. Mother's Day celebrations in the United Kingdom and the United States tend to be fairly similar to each other: mothers are often treated to breakfast in bed, they're made cards by their children and receive gifts of chocolate and flowers. Food often plays a central role in Mother's Day celebrations: in Italy mothers are made a heart-shaped cake, in Ethiopia (where celebrations last for three days!) boys bring gifts of meat while girls bring gifts of vegetables and fruit, and in France cakes decorated with flowers are often given.
In fact, flowers play a central role in celebrations around the world. In both the United Kingdom and the United States, flowers are often given as gifts. In Australia, many people wear red carnations on Mother's Day as a mark of love and respect. However, a white carnation is worn if one's mother is no longer alive. Red carnations are also given in China on Mother's Day.
Modern day celebrations of Mother's Day are, evidently, diverse and it has evolved in many different cultures for a wide range of reasons. What is clear, is that it remains an important acknowledgement of the hard work, love and support that mothers provide.
Katie's Cards is a family-run ecard business based in Teddington, UK. Their website contains a selection of over 200 ecards suitable for all occasions from wedding e cards to birthday e cards to Diwali e cards. Ecards provide an eco-friendly alternative to sending printed cards as no resources are needed to make the cards nor to print them. Ecards are therefore a useful tool for reducing your carbon footprint either as a business or as an individual. For a small fee, Katie's Cards members can send unlimited ecards throughout the duration of their membership thus providing a very economical way of keeping in touch with family and friends.
St. Patrick's Day celebrations across the country by The Washington Post
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7709906
