Most of the world seems to have a traditional way of celebrating Mother’s Day and making sure moms everywhere feel loved and receive the praise they deserve.
But look hard enough around the world, and you’ll find a few traditions surrounding Mother’s Day that don't have anything to do with flowers, cards or brunches.
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Mexico’s song
Much like singing “Happy Birthday” when a birthday is celebrated, people in Mexico each Mother’s Day (held May 10 every year) sing moms everywhere a song called “Las Mananitas.”
The English translation goes like this:
These are little mornings That King David used to sing And on the day of your Saint We sing them to you. Wake up, my dear, wake up! Look, it’s already dawning, The little birds are already singing The moon has gone away.
Sweden’s vacation fundraising
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of May in Sweden, and many children sell small plastic flowers as gifts.
The proceeds from the sale of the flowers are then used to send mothers with young children on a short getaway.
Japan’s art exhibits
In Japan, a popular ritual on Mother’s Day is for children to draw pictures of their mothers. Those pictures can be posted on windows at stores or submitted for art competitions, with the selected winners having their pictures displayed at exhibits across the country and possibly in other parts of the world.
Serbian tie-up
On Mother’s Day, Serbians like to honor a church tradition of remembrance, unity and tying generations together, but this is certainly a different way to do it.
Celebrated in December, Mother’s Day in Serbia kicks off when children enter mom’s bedroom and tie her up. Yes, you read that correctly. They tie up mom on Mother’s Day.
In order to be “released,” the mother has to present her children with gifts.
However, it must be noted that mothers aren’t the only ones tied up on their day of celebration. A week earlier on Children’s Day, children are tied up and must agree to behave before they are released.
A week after Mother’s Day, the fathers are tied up and until they present gifts on Father’s Day.
Of the above rituals, which one would you want to most see incorporated into Mother’s Day in the U.S.? Let us know in the poll below.
This story was first published in 2019. It has since been updated.