Is it already Mother's Day? Well, perhaps it's closer than you think. Mother's Day season kicks off on the second Sunday of February in Norway and runs throughout the spring, summer, and fall until Indonesia closes the line on the 22nd of December.
It makes this celebration a unique holiday without a worldwide fixed day. You could state that it is always Mother's Day somewhere in the world. Good to know that mommy is top of mind somewhere somehow.
Mother's Days Around the World
Mother's Day is a special day that is celebrated all over the world to honor mothers and the love and care they provide to their children. This day is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world, but one thing that remains constant is the presence of flowers. Flowers play a significant role in Mother's Day celebrations, and they are the perfect way to show love and appreciation for the mother figure in our lives.
Kick-off in Norway & the UK
So, the Mother's Day season starts in Norway with Morsdag, where roses are a popular choice as they symbolize love, passion, and gratitude. Roses can be given in a bouquet or potted and are available in a variety of colors, each with its own meaning. Pink roses, for example, symbolize gratitude, while red roses symbolize love and affection. Tulips and lilies are also a top choice for Norwegian children as a gift for (grand)moms.
In the United Kingdom, Mother's Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent (three weeks before Easter Sunday) and is a time for families to come together to show their love and appreciation for their mothers. Flowers play a big role in these celebrations, and people often give bouquets, potted plants, and other floral arrangements to their mothers. Some of the most popular flowers for Mother's Day in the United Kingdom are roses, lilies, daisies, and carnations.
8 of March?
Many countries celebrate International Women's Day, the 8th of March, also as a kind of Mother's Day. This is especially common in Eastern Europa and several countries in the oriental, like Laos and Vietnam.
The Month of the Virgin
Some Catholic countries celebrate the start of the Month of the Virgin Mary as Mother's Day. That is why countries like Spain, Portugal, Romania, and Hungary hold Mother's Day on the first Sunday of May.
The 2nd Sunday of May
In the vast majority of the world's countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, India, Germany, (this is truly a long list)... Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, and it is the busiest day for florists everywhere. Like almost everywhere, flowers are one of the most popular gifts, and people buy everything from bouquets to potted plants to show their love and gratitude.
Roses are a popular choice for Mother's Day as they symbolize love and appreciation, but many other flowers like daisies, carnations, lilies, and sunflowers are also given as gifts.
Late Mother's Days
Countries like Poland and France are quite late from a European perspective. Unlike most countries, Poland holds its Dzień Matki always on the very same date, regardless if it is a Sunday or not: the 26th of May. The French probably have the most complicated calculation on the date of their Fête des Mères: The last Sunday of May, or the first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost. Are you still with us?
Russia's Late Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Russia is not so big yet, miles behind the far more popular Women's Day, which is held on the 8th of March. Perhaps that's the reason for the late date of the other day to celebrate women, Mother's Day. There is no fixed date, it's always celebrated on the last Sunday of November.
Belgium Celebrates partly in May and in August
In Antwerp it's tradition they celebrate Mother's Day on the 15th of August, on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. And not like in the rest of the country: on the second Sunday of May. It's a beautiful tradition to honor mothers on that date.
Finally... Indonesia
Finally, Indonesia closes the long long Mother's Day season. Here, this day is called Hari Ibu. Every year on December 22nd, families come together to celebrate their mothers and show their appreciation for all that they do. The flowers that are popular to give are red roses, carnations, and orchids.
Flowers Symbolize Love, Appreciation, and Gratitude
Flowers have a special significance in Mother's Day celebrations as they symbolize love, appreciation, and gratitude. They are the perfect way to show mothers how much they are loved and appreciated, and they bring joy and happiness to their lives. Flowers are also a beautiful and timeless gift, and will remain to be popular for years to come.
Photo by Victoria Flowers UK
As mentioned before, Mother's Day is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world, but one thing that remains constant is the presence of flowers. Flowers play a significant role in Mother's Day celebrations, and they are a perfect way. Check these possibilities in your flower choice, and in which country they are particularly popular as a gift.
- Roses for Mother's Day - A classic and popular choice in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
- Carnations (Dianthus) - Another popular choice, often associated with the holiday in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe
- Lilies - A popular gift for Mother's Day in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
- Chrysanthemums - A traditional choice for Mother's Day in countries like Japan, South Korea, and China
- Sunflowers (Helianthus) - A bright and cheerful choice that is popular in many countries, especially in South America
- Orchids - A luxurious and exotic gift that is popular in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
- Tulips - A popular choice in countries like the Netherlands, where the flower is abundant, and in many other countries around the world
- Peonies - A popular gift for Mother's Day in countries like China, where the flower is symbolic of maternal love
- Daisies (Bellis perennis) - A sweet and simple choice that is popular in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
- Irises - A stunning and elegant choice that is popular in many countries, including France, Italy, and Germany.
The Longest Flower Season
Yes, it's a long Mother's Day season, the most seasonally spread holiday in the world. It feels like it is always somewhere a Mother's Day. And that's great because mothers of the world deserve this attention. And we need to say this with flowers, of course...
Header image via Canva.
