Mothers are the heartbeat of the home. Mother’s Day honours the selfless love of mothers, their contribution to their families, and their influence on society in general. Although the day is celebrated almost everywhere in the world, the dates do tend to vary for some countries.
When is Mother’s Day celebrated in the Arab world, and how? Join Wego as we discuss the essentials of this observance.
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Mother’s Day 2024 date
In the Arab world and the Middle East & Northern Africa (MENA) region, Mother’s Day is celebrated on 21 March every year.
In 2024, Arab Mother’s Day falls on a Thursday.
History of Mother’s Day in the Arab World
The history of Mother’s Day in the Arab world dates back to Ancient Egypt, which used to hold an annual festival to celebrate Isis, the goddess of motherhood, new life and fertility. However, that tradition later faded over time.
In 1943, journalist Mustafa Amin tried to bring it back to life through his book “Smiling America”. Although initially overlooked, the idea gained momentum when Amin connected an anecdotal story of a widowed mother who devoted her life to raising her son to become a doctor but never received any love or gratitude from him in return.
Amin campaigned for recognition of Mother’s Day until the notion spread widely amongst the masses and ultimately got accepted by president Gamal Abdel Nasser 10 years later. In memory of the original Ancient Egyptian tradition, it was decided to celebrate Mother’s Day on the first day of spring, signalling new life.
Arab Mother’s Day was first observed in Egypt on 21 March 1956 and was later adopted by other countries in the MENA region as well.
How is Mother’s Day celebrated?
Mother’s Day is the occasion to show your mom how much she means to you, so how you celebrate it knows no bounds.
It is customary to shower your mother with little tokens of appreciation, such as flowers, cards, or gifts. Give her a rest from kitchen work and take her to dinner somewhere. Or even better, cook her favourite dishes yourself.
If you feel like doing something grander, you can take her on a trip to that one place she’s never been but has always wanted to!
Remember, the whole point of Mother’s Day is to express gratitude towards your mother. Even if you’re unable to do anything fancy, a simple, heartfelt “thank you” will do the job too.
