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1. Spanish Mother’s Day traditions
2. Origin of Mother’s Day in Spain
3. Significance of Mother’s Day in May in Spain
Why is Mother’s Day celebrated in Spain today, the first Sunday in May?
Mother’s Day in Spain is celebrated on the first Sunday of May, a tradition with ancient roots dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. The day honors mothers and maternal figures, with a history that includes religious and cultural significance. In the 20th century, the US played a key role in establishing Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, a date now observed in many countries worldwide. In Spain, the celebration was moved to May in 1965, aligning with the month of the Virgin Mary. Today, Mother’s Day is a time to show appreciation and love for mothers, grandmothers, and maternal figures.
Sunday, 5 May 2024, 10:09
This Sunday (5 May 2024) is an important day on the calendar in Spain because it is Mother’s Day. Unlike Father’s Day (19 March), there is no fixed date for it: however it always falls on the first Sunday in May.
Why is it commemorated this way? The origin of the ‘Día de la Madre’, as it is called in Spain, goes back to ancient Greece, where they used to honour Rhea, the mother of the Greek gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, among others. This feast day became so important that the Romans joined in as well, and set 15 March as the day for their tribute to mothers. The day was called Hilaria, and involved three days of offerings in the temple of Cybele.
The Catholic church in Europe also honoured the Virgin Mary, although it was not until 8 December 1854 that Pope Pio IX decided it should coincide with the Day of the Immaculate Conception. Then, in the 20th century, US president Woodrow Wilson declared in 1914 that Mothers’ Day was to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. His support for that date was significant, but more important still was the work begun by two women, beforehand.
The first was activist Julia Ward Howe, who organised a huge pacifist demonstration and religious celebration in Boston in 1870, in which the protagonists were all the mothers who had been victims of the American Civil War. Years later, early in the 20th century, Anna Reeves Jarvis, a housewife in the USA, picked up the thread which Julia had begun and started to campaign nationally for Mothers’ Day to be the second Sunday in May. Then came the official decision from President Wilson. Gradually, elsewhere in the world, countries began to celebrate Mothers’ Day, although the dates did not always coincide.
In Spain there are records from 1330 showing the creation of religious brotherhoods in tribute to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception in Girona, and Mothers’ Day also began to be celebrated on that day, 8 December. However, after the US president made his decision, it was decided to separate Mothers’ Day from the celebration of the Immaculate Conception.
May 1965 was when Mothers’ Day was moved to May in Spain, because it is the month of the Virgin, and the authorities opted for the first Sunday of that month, as did those in Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal and South Africa, among others. However, in other parts of the world it is still celebrated on the second Sunday in May, such as in Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, China, Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, the Philippines and Italy.
Related Story.
Mother’s Day is a special occasion celebrated all around the world to honor and appreciate the love and sacrifices of mothers. In Spain, this important day is commemorated on the first Sunday in May. But have you ever wondered why Mother’s Day is celebrated on this particular day in Spain? Let’s delve into the fascinating history behind this beloved holiday.
The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient Greece, where Rhea, the mother of the Greek gods, was honored. This tradition was later adopted by the Romans, who celebrated a festival called Hilaria on 15 March to pay tribute to mothers. Over time, the Catholic Church in Europe also began to honor the Virgin Mary on special feast days.
In the 20th century, the modern concept of Mother’s Day took shape, thanks to the efforts of two remarkable women. Activist Julia Ward Howe organized a pacifist demonstration in Boston in 1870 to honor mothers who had lost their sons in the American Civil War. Building on this foundation, Anna Reeves Jarvis campaigned for a national Mother’s Day celebration in the USA, eventually leading to President Woodrow Wilson declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914.
The influence of these women’s efforts spread globally, with countries around the world adopting their own versions of Mother’s Day. In Spain, the celebration of Mother’s Day was initially linked to the feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December. However, inspired by President Wilson’s decision, Spain moved Mother’s Day to the first Sunday in May in 1965, aligning it with the month of the Virgin Mary.
Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in May in Spain, as well as in countries like Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, and South Africa. In other parts of the world, Mother’s Day is still observed on the second Sunday in May, including countries like Germany, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Italy.
This Mother’s Day, take the time to show your appreciation for the special women in your life who have nurtured and cared for you. Whether it’s with a heartfelt card, a thoughtful gift, or simply spending quality time together, make sure to let them know how much they mean to you. Happy Mother’s Day!
Sources:
– History of Mother’s Day: https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/why-mothers-day-celebrated-spain-today-the-20240505100857-nt.html
– Origins of Mother’s Day: https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/why-mothers-day-celebrated-spain-today-the-20240505100857-nt.html
– Mother’s Day around the world: https://www.surinenglish.com/spain/why-mothers-day-celebrated-spain-today-the-20240505100857-nt.html
