In today's issue
Mother earth
With Mother's Day in the UAE being celebrated tomorrow, tabloid! takes a look at when to honour your mum around the globe.
- By Shalaka Paradkar, Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:38 March 20, 2008
Why just make your mother feel special on one day in a year? There is a Mother's Day being celebrated somewhere in the world, almost every month of the year.
In much of the Arab world, including the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, Mother's Day is celebrated tomorrow, on the first day of spring.
In Britain and Ireland, Mother's Day, or Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday in Lent. This year, it was on March 2.
Month for mothers
March is definitely the month for mothers. Georgia honours its mums on March 3. Mother's Day is on March 8 for Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Laos, Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia and the Ukraine. For Belarus, Bulgaria, Guyana, Macedonia, Mongolia and Russia, International Women's Day (March 8) is celebrated as the day to honour all women and not just mums. Slovenia honours its mums on March 25.
On April 7 it is Armenia's turn to celebrate Mother's Day.
In the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, Mother's Day is celebrated as Mata Tirtha Puja; the date varies according to the Hindu calendar, but it is usually in April or May (the summer month or Baisakh). Those who don't have a mother make the pilgrimage to Mata Tirtha, a sacred site near Kathmandu. It is an official holiday as well.
Widest celebrations
The first Sunday in May has mothers in Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, and Spain rejoicing. May 8 is Parent's Day in Albania and South Korea, while May 10 is for mums in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
But by far the widest celebrations of Mother's Day happen on the second Sunday of May. Nearly 40 countries around the world celebrate Mother's Day on this day, including (deep breath): Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, St. Lucia, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Poland celebrates it on May 26, followed by Bolivia the next day.
The last Sunday in May is for mums in Algeria, Dominican Republic, France, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden and Tunisia; while Nicaraguan mothers are feted on May 30. France's Fête des Meres is a tradition started by Napoleon and made official in 1950.
Twice a year
You're lucky if you are a Mongolian mum. This is the only country that celebrates Mother's day twice a year. On June 1, Mongolia celebrates Mother's and Children's Day. Little Luxembourg celebrates on the second Sunday of June, while Kenya has Mother's Day on the last Sunday of June.
Thailand celebrates Mother's Day on August 12, the birthday of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara. August 15 is Assumption Day and Mother's Day in Belgium and Costa Rica.
Malawi's mothers are honoured on the second Monday in October, while in Belarus it is on October 14. The third Sunday in October is for mothers in Argentina (Día de la Madre). In Russia, it is the last Sunday of November.
A few more countries celebrate Mother's Day in December: Panama on December 8, Iran on December 16, now replaced by the birthday of Fatimah, daughter of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and Indonesia on December 22. On December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Spanish mothers are honoured, but also Mary, mother of Jesus. The second Sunday in February is for Norway's mums.
Patience:
A mother's greatest asset is patience. It will be tried at many stages in the rearing of a child — especially during those pesky teenage years. But with a bit of luck she will be patient enough to see the process through for at least 18 years.
History of Mother's Day
Mothers hold a special and exalted place in Arab culture. Much of the Arab world celebrates Mother's Day on the first day of spring. What's the story behind this date? One version says that in 1956, a woman went to Akhbar Al Youm Publishing House in Cairo, Egypt, and told the twin journalists, Ali and Mustafa Amin, about her only son who neglected her, despite the many sacrifices she made for her child. The twins were deeply moved so Ali decided that every March 21 would be Mothers' Day. Mother's Day was also celebrated in ancient Egypt, where the people worshipped the goddess Iris. Motherhood was held in high esteem by the ancient Egyptians, who believed that mothers are God's gift to Earth.
Guidance:
Children need guidance throughout their early years, from basic decisions at school through to fundamental choices later in life. Sometimes a child won't want to listen to his mother's advice but a good mother perseveres and hopes that things will be all OK in the end. Just remember kids: mother knows best.
Love:
A mother's love should be unconditional, forgiving, non-judgmental and complete. She will stick with her child through thick and thin through trials and tribulations.
In most cultures she will go without food to feed her child and put her life on hold to raise her brood.
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