Second Sunday of May
Second Sunday of May, U.S. celebration
What's right after Teacher Appreciation Week? Yes, it's Mother's Day, how convenient, since most teachers are considered mothers. Some of the teachers are more respected than their actual mothers. But this blog isn't about that; it's about whether or not you should celebrate it by making gifts for your students' mothers or not.
The history behind Mother's Day in the US is sad. In 1907, Anna Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia, to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, which is the 2nd Sunday of May. It was successful, as by 1911 Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. He established the day as a time for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” By then, it had become customary to wear white carnations to honor departed mothers and red to honor the living, a custom that continues to this day. While Anna Jarvis was the creator of modern-day Mother's Day, she was disheartened by how commercialized it had become. She had envisioned Mother’s Day as a personal, heartfelt occasion, not one defined by profit. Despite her objections, the holiday gained enormous popularity, evolving into a major event for businesses and families alike. (MSN, n.d.) Jarvis died while trying to revoke the holiday. So, in a nutshell, the person who started the holiday also wanted to end it.
Here's how other countries celebrate Mother's Day:
United Kingdom: Here, Mother’s Day is known as “Mothering Sunday” and is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters who worked as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their mothers and family.
Thailand: In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on August 12th, marking the birthday of Queen Sirikit, the mother of the nation. The day is commemorated with parades and fireworks, and jasmine flowers are popular gifts, symbolizing maternal love and respect.
Ethiopia: Ethiopians celebrate Mother’s Day with a multi-day festival called “Antrosht,” which is part of the larger autumn festival. It involves large feasts, singing, and dancing, where the whole family comes together to celebrate motherhood.
Mexico: In Mexico, Mother’s Day, or “Día de la Madre,” is celebrated on May 10th regardless of the day of the week. The day begins with a morning serenade of the song “Las Mañanitas” to mothers, followed by mass, food, music, and often a family gathering.
Why can't we celebrate Mother's Day like these countries? NO gifts, just togetherness. Since the U.S. holiday has gotten so materialistic for Mother's Day, teachers are faced with making items for Mother's Day. On the other hand, many children struggle with this holiday called "Mother's Day." As the U.S. population navigates Mother's Day with the absence of a central figure in their lives, coping with their grief and loss that is not talked about (Lpc, 2025), or more than one mother. As teachers, we know we can't please everyone. As a teacher, I struggle with remembering which students have 2 moms, either a stepmom and mom, or 2 parents as mom, or even if they don't celebrate it because they have 2 dads. Then, which students don't have a mom and are raised by a grandma or an aunt, or in foster care? I have caught myself looking through files to remind myself which students live with whom. It's hard for teachers to create a "Mother's Day" project. So, in my class, we do picture frames that say love on them. This way, I do not have to think of different ways to please everyone. We do not label them mom or anything else, just love.
-In what ways do you incorporate Mother's Day into your classrooms?
-Do you have any other projects or ideas that can be included for Mother's Day?
-And as a teacher who may have dealt with miscarriages, no children, or the death of a child, how is it to make your students happy while trying to hide your sadness?
For more Blogs, visit my personal page: https://sites.google.com/eagles.cui.edu/marilyngubac/blogsAdmin_TUL. (2024, April 11). Mother’s Day around the World: A journey through global traditions. The USA Leaders. https://theusaleaders.com/articles/mothers-day/
Lpc, H. S. F. (2025, May 12). Honoring all journeys: How to be inclusive on Mother’s Day and cope with grief. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/at-the-intersection-of-healing-and-thriving/202505/navigating-mothers-day-with-a-heavy-heart?msockid=0a10020e1aca6a591e8d12841b586be9
MSN (n.d.). https://www.msn.com/en-in/society-culture-and-history/holidays-and-festivals/the-untold-history-of-mother-s-day-in-the-usa-how-it-began-and-what-it-means-today/ar-AA1ExaOO?ocid=BingNewsSerp
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