Key Takeaways
- Mother’s Day is a global idea with local calendars: Argentina keeps it on the third Sunday of October, Mexico celebrates every 10 May, and the Netherlands marks it on the second Sunday of May.
- Argentina’s October choice is rooted in a Catholic commemoration of Mary’s motherhood that was historically celebrated in October and later reformed; the country preserved the October spirit on a Sunday for family gatherings.
- Mexico’s fixed 10 May date has been part of national life since 1922, woven into music, flowers, and multigenerational reunions.
- The Netherlands follows the modern May model that spread from the United States (US): a home-centred day with cards, breakfast trays, and—fittingly—flowers.
- The modern holiday was propelled by Anna Jarvis (1864–1948); the first church observance came in 1908, and a US national proclamation followed in 1914. Jarvis later denounced commercialisation, advocating intimate, handwritten tributes instead.
Story & Details
Argentina: Why October Still Feels Right
Unlike most countries, Argentina honours mothers on the third Sunday of October. The choice traces back to a Catholic feast celebrating the Maternity of Mary that, for much of the twentieth century, fell in October. After liturgical reforms moved Marian motherhood to January 1, Argentina kept the October tradition for cultural continuity and family logistics—moving the celebration to a Sunday so families could gather without rush. The custom stuck: lunches, flowers, and warm gestures carry the day.
Mexico: A Date That Doesn’t Move—10 May
Mexico treats 10 May as a national rendezvous with gratitude, regardless of the weekday. The date gained momentum in 1922 through civic and media advocacy in Mexico City, soon becoming one of the country’s most cherished traditions. Families start early with songs like Las Mañanitas, attend Mass, visit parents and grandparents, and fill homes with music, flowers, and shared dishes. The result is a celebration that blends Catholic heritage with a distinctly Mexican sense of family warmth.
The Netherlands: The May Pattern, Dutch Style
In the Netherlands, Moederdag is the second Sunday of May, mirroring the model popularised by the US in the early 1900s. The Dutch keep it close to home: breakfast in bed, child-made cards, and bouquets—an especially fitting touch in a country famed for floriculture. The tone is intimate rather than strictly religious, emphasising appreciation over ritual.
The Modern Blueprint: Anna Jarvis’s Big Idea
The global spread of Mother’s Day owes much to Anna Jarvis, who was moved by her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis’s community work. Jarvis helped organise a church observance in Grafton, West Virginia, in 1908. Her campaign led President Woodrow Wilson to proclaim the second Sunday of May as the US national holiday in 1914. Ironically, Jarvis later opposed commercialisation, urging people to return to personal, handwritten notes and private remembrance—a tension that still surfaces every May.
Conclusions
Different calendars, same emotion.
Argentina’s October, Mexico’s fixed May 10, and the Netherlands’ May Sunday show how a shared idea took local roots—religious history here, civic momentum there, and everyday family affection everywhere. Behind these paths stands Anna Jarvis’s simple intention: a sincere thanks to mothers, expressed with care rather than commerce.
Sources
- History.com — Woodrow Wilson Proclaims the First Mother’s Day Holiday (US proclamation, 1914): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-9/woodrow-wilson-proclaims-the-first-mothers-day-holiday
- National Park Service — Anna Maria Jarvis (biographical overview): https://www.nps.gov/people/anna-maria-jarvis.htm
- Timeanddate — Mother’s Day in Argentina (observance; October timing): https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/argentina/mothers-day
- IamExpat (Netherlands) — Mother’s Day (Moederdag) in the Netherlands and Abroad (second Sunday in May): https://www.iamexpat.nl/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/mothers-day-moederdag-netherlands-and-abroad-history
- HowStuffWorks — History of Mother’s Day in Mexico (10 May; 1922 context): https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/history-of-mothers-day-in-mexico.htm
- Houston Chronicle — Mexican Mother’s Day is Tomorrow: Everything you need to know about Día de las Madres (recent explainer): https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/mexican-mothers-day-20319052.php
- Wikipedia — Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (liturgical reform background; January 1): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity_of_Mary,_Mother_of_God
- New Liturgical Movement — Why Did Vatican II Open on October 11? (historical note on the October 11 Marian feast): https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2017/10/why-did-vatican-ii-open-on-october-11.html
- YouTube (required) — National Women’s History Museum, Anna Jarvis: History of Mother’s Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHHmr_fTJB4
Appendix
What “Día de la Madre” Means
“Día de la Madre” is the Spanish term for Mother’s Day. It is widely used across Latin America and Spain and often carries religious echoes alongside family-centred customs.
What “Moederdag” Means
“Moederdag” is Dutch for Mother’s Day. In the Netherlands it denotes a family-first celebration on the second Sunday of May, typically marked by flowers and small, home-made gestures.
On Liturgical Dates and Argentina’s October Choice
The Catholic celebration of Mary’s motherhood has occupied different places in the calendar over time: historically in October for many communities, and in the modern Roman Rite on January 1. Argentina’s custom kept the October sentiment and anchored it to a Sunday so families could celebrate together.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 