Mother's Day is anything but a marketing invention: its history reaches back to antiquity, from tributes to Rhea and Cybele, mothers of the gods for the Greeks, to the English Mothering Sunday of the 16th century. In France, it only became official in 1950; in the United States, it grew out of Anna Jarvis's dedication in 1908. Now celebrated the world over — from Tunisia to Canada, from Spain to Ethiopia — it takes on different forms from one country to the next.
The origins of Mother's Day
Mother's Day is far more than a commercial tradition. Behind the bouquets of flowers and the macaroni necklaces lies a story as ancient as it is moving. To celebrate motherhood, to honour the women who gave us life, to thank them for their unconditional love: a universal gesture, expressed in a thousand different ways across eras and countries.
From ancient goddesses to Christian churches
The earliest tributes to mothers date back to antiquity. The Greeks honoured Rhea and Cybele, mothers of the gods. The Romans, for their part, celebrated Mater Matuta during the Matralia, a festival held on 11 June.
Later, in the 16th century, the English established Mothering Sunday, celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent. This day allowed servants to return to their home parish for a day with their family. Over time, the custom became secular. Children would offer flowers to their mothers, until it merged with the American version in the 1930s.
Mother's Day in France: a belated recognition
While Napoleon Bonaparte had contemplated an official Mother's Day as early as 1806, the idea took time to take root. It was not until 1906 that a first celebration was held in Artas, in the Isère. The occasion took shape during the First World War, then became institutional under the Vichy regime, with a national day proclaimed in 1941. Only in 1950 did the law officially set Mother's Day in France on the last Sunday of May (or the first Sunday of June if it coincides with Pentecost).
Mother's Day in the United States: Anna Jarvis's dedication
The modern history of Mother's Day in the United States begins in the 19th century. Ann Reeves Jarvis created the Mothers' Work Clubs, then organised a Friendship Day to reconcile families after the Civil War. Julia Ward Howe, a feminist activist, also issued a call for a Mothers' Day for Peace.
But it was Anna Jarvis, Ann's daughter, who launched the first official celebration in 1908. Deeply affected by her mother's death, she devoted her life to securing this day a place on the national calendar. In 1914, President Wilson declared the second Sunday of May a day dedicated to mothers.
In an ironic twist of fate, horrified by the commercial hijacking of her celebration, Anna Jarvis ended up disowning it entirely, filing lawsuits against brands and calling for a boycott of florists. A losing battle, but a telling one, revealing the tensions between sincerity and consumerism.
Mother's Day around the world
Today, Mother's Day around the world reflects the diversity of cultures:
| Country | Traditions and date |
|---|---|
| Tunisia | Celebrated on the last Sunday of May. Little poems, handmade gifts at school, beauty sets or cakes: everyone finds their own way to delight their mum. |
| Canada | As in the United States, the second Sunday of May. |
| Spain | Celebrated on the first Sunday of May; mothers are treated to dinner out. |
| Belgium | The date varies by region: the second Sunday of May or 15 August. |
| England | Mothering Sunday always falls in spring, at mid-Lent. |
| Ethiopia | The Antrosht festival lasts three days in autumn. |
| Italy, Turkey, Russia, Denmark, Finland | They follow the American model. |
In Tunisia, a tradition embraced and firmly rooted
While Mother's Day in Tunisia was introduced under the French occupation, it gradually took hold in every family, whatever their faith. Mothers are celebrated the American way, but with a Tunisian touch: with heart, poetry and often a good family meal.
