Mother´s Day in Mexico

On May 10th the Mexicans celebrate the Día de las Madres. In 1922 a journalist, Rafael Alducín wrote an article advocating the celebration of Mother’s Day in all of Mexico. Though the practice had already spread to parts of Mexico, Alducín’s article led to widespread observance of the holiday, and May 10 is the universal day of celebration in Mexico. In the morning the mother is usually treated to a song sung by her family, or a serenade by a hired band. A family breakfast or brunch is also customary. Any family trouble or enmity is laid aside and all gather to honor the matriarch.

Mexicans typically exchange flowers and chocolates. Cards are very popular, and apparently May 10 is the largest day for card sending in Mexico. Phone calls are also customary if the child cannot make it to see their mother.

A Mother’s Day breakfast, Mexican style: Día de las Madres

Mexicans observe Día de las Madres wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. Cynical comments about another “Hallmark holiday” and complaints about retailers’ ad campaigns are not heard here. Instead, the day is celebrated with flowers, presents, and special programs. School children proudly invite their mothers to plays, dances and recitals. Stores, movie theatres and supermarkets all give out little recuerdos, or remembrances, to the mothers who come in during the day.

One of the most charming customs of all is that practiced in many Mexican churches, the early morning singing of Las Mañanitas and distribution of tamales and atole to all the local moms.

While tamales and atole are the traditional early-morning meal, many people do not eat until mid-morning, enjoying a meal called almuerzo, which is the equivalent of brunch, and not lunch, as it is sometimes mistakenly translated. The range of food eaten at almuerzo is much wider than typical north-of-the-border breakfast fare, from grilled meats to hearty egg dishes and even moles and stews.

Fresh seasonal fruit, either sliced or juiced, is usually served first, with coffee, herb tea or Mexico’s beloved hot chocolate accompanying the meal.

Mother’s Day History

The majority of countries that celebrate Mother’s Day do so on the second Sunday of May. On this day, it is common for Mothers to be lavished with presents and special attention from their families, friends and loved ones.

But it wasn’t always this way...
Spiritual Origin of Mother’s Day

Only recently dubbed “Mother’s Day,” the highly traditional practice of honoring of Motherhood is rooted in antiquity, and past rites typically had strong symbolic and spiritual overtones; societies tended to celebrate Goddesses and symbols rather than actual Mothers. The personal, human touch to Mother’s Day is a relatively new phenomenon. The maternal objects of adoration ranged from mythological female deities to the Christian Church itself. Only in the past few centuries did celebrations of Motherhood develop a decidedly human focus.
Goddess Isis - Early Egyptian Roots

One of the earliest historical records of a society celebrating a Mother deity can be found among the ancient Egyptians, who held an annual festival to honor the goddess Isis, who was commonly regarded as the Mother of the pharaohs. Her stern, yet handsome head is typically crowned by a pair of bull horns enclosing a fiery sun orb. She is most often depicted sitting on a throne.

So the story goes, after Isis’ brother-husband Osiris was slain and dismembered in 13 pieces by their jealous brother Seth, Isis re-assembled Osiris’ body and used it to impregnate herself. She then gave birth to Horus, whom she was forced to hide amongst the reeds lest he be slaughtered by Seth. Horus grew up and defeated Seth, and then became the first ruler of a unified Egypt. Thus Isis earned her stature as the Mother of the pharaohs.

It is interesting to note that the Mother and Son imagery of Isis and Horus—in which Isis cradles and suckles her son—is strikingly similar to that of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.
Cybele - Ancient Roman Celebration

The festival of Isis was also celebrated by the Romans who used the event to commemorate an important battle and mark the beginning of Winter. Despite being an imported deity, Isis held a place at the Roman temple, and her festival—which lasted for three days—was regaled by mostly-female dancers, musicians and singers.

Yet the Roman root of Mother’s Day is perhaps more precisely found in the celebration of the Phrygian goddess Cybele, or Magna Mater (Great Mother).

Cybele stems from the Greek Goddess Rhea, who was the Mother of most of the major deities including Zeus. Rhea was therefore celebrated as a mother goddess, and the festival took place around the time of the Vernal Equinox.

Greek Celebration of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods
In Rome and Asia Minor, Cybele was the major Mother deity most similar to Rhea, the Greek mother of the Gods. Other societies worshipped similar deities including Gaia the Earth Goddess and Meter oreie the Mountain Mother. In many aspects, this Mother goddess was represented and celebrated similarly across cultures.

The Anatolian mother goddess festivals, however, were said to be so wild that they were eventually discouraged or banned. But more conservative celebrations of Cybele and her equivalents included eating honey cakes and sharing flowers in the morning. This was practiced throughout Asia Minor—and eventually in Rome.

The Roman celebration of Magna Mater fell between March 15 and March 22, just around the same time as the Greek festival in honor of Rhea. Referred to as Hilaria, games were held in honor of the Mother of the gods. Also customary was a procession through the streets with a statue of the goddess carried at the head, followed by a display of elaborate arts and crafts.

Recent History
The more recent history of Mother’s Day dates back to 1600s in England where people celebrated the 4th Sunday of Lent as “Mothering Sunday” to honor the mothers of England. However, Mother’s Day celebration as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and not even a hundred years old.

Mother’s Day Global Celebration
At present, Mother’s Day is celebrated across 46 countries (though on different dates) and is a hugely popular affair. People across the globe have different ways of celebrating Mother’s Day. They take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers and thank them for their constant and unconditional love and support. As a token of their love people gift flowers, cards and others gift to mothers on the Mother’s Day. Along with this, special Mother’s Day parties are also arranged by kids for their sweet moms.