Mother’s Day was on May 10 in Mexico. In Japan, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May, but here it’s on the same day every year. The tradition started in 1922 when a Mexican newspaper company suggested that people celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10. Nothing is more important than family in Mexico, and mothers are particularly special—so it’s a huge event every year. It’s not a public holiday, but some companies give people the afternoon or whole day off, and many people use their vacation days. Some schools sing songs, give cards, or hold other events. The restaurants are packed every year, since many Mexicans celebrate Mother’s Day by eating lunch with their families. Traffic jams are another common sight on Mother’s Day in Mexico. Even with the pandemic this year, the restaurants were still busy—more crowded than usual, and with a lot of takeout and delivery orders. Aside from sharing a meal and spending time together, it’s common to give cards or flowers as presents. Carnations are the standard gift in Japan, but people typically give roses in Mexico. Department stores and other shops have sales around Mother’s Day too, so you see a lot of moms out having fun shopping as well.


A Mother’s Day bouquet made with roses and other flowers—not just carnations
In Japan, men who are too close to their mothers risk being labeled as “momma’s boys,” causing other women to keep their distance—but it’s completely normal in Mexico for even strong, independent adults to adore and respect their mothers. The same feelings are there in Japan, of course, but most people are embarrassed to express them outwardly in words or actions. You can chalk it up to traditional and cultural differences, but I doubt there’s a mother anywhere who wouldn’t be overjoyed to have her children express their honest feelings of love for her, no matter how old they are.
The fact that most Mexicans are Catholic probably has a lot to do with this aspect of their culture, since Mother Mary is such a powerful figure in their religion. In Mexico, the Virgin Mary is shown with brown skin and known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. You see images of her not only in churches, but also in plazas, along the side of the road—even at taxi stands. Maria and Guadalupe remain popular girls’ names generation after generation.


An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
On the morning of Mother’s Day, people start exchanging Feliz Día De Las Madres! (Happy Mother’s Day!”) messages in preschool or mothers’ groups on WhatsApp and other social media platforms. Mother’s Day is a family event in Japan, so while you rarely hear mothers who are friends or people in the workplace exchanging Mother’s Day greetings with each other in Japan, in Mexico it feels like everyone is celebrating every woman who is somebody’s mother. That’s also because in Japanese we say, “Thank you, Mom,” while in Spanish saying “Happy Mother’s Day” is more general. But while different countries may vary somewhat in how they celebrate, feelings of gratitude towards our mothers are the same the world over.