The History of Mother’s Day: Ukrainian, Canadian, and Global Traditions

Mother’s Day is one of the most cherished celebrations worldwide, honoring the women who nurture and shape our lives. While the holiday is observed in countless countries today, its roots, traditions, and even dates vary significantly across cultures. This article explores the fascinating history of Mother’s Day in Ukraine and Canada, while also examining its ancient global origins and Indigenous perspectives on motherhood.

Ancient Beginnings: Honoring Maternal Figures

The concept of honoring motherhood dates back thousands of years. Long before our modern celebrations, ancient civilizations paid tribute to maternal figures through festivals and rituals:

• Ancient Greece and Rome held springtime festivals honoring the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, who represented divine maternal power
• Ancient Egypt celebrated the goddess Isis, who symbolized the ideal mother and wife in Egyptian mythology
• Other early cultures including the Chinese and Indians also celebrated motherhood through honoring mother figures like Nuwa and Durga

These ancient celebrations laid the foundation for our modern understanding of motherhood as something worthy of special recognition and honor.

The Birth of Modern Mother’s Day

The Mother’s Day we recognize today has more recent origins, with deep roots in social activism and peace movements:

• Mothering Sunday emerged in 16th century Britain as a Christian tradition when people would return to their “mother church” on the fourth Sunday of Lent
• Over time, it evolved into a more secular celebration with children presenting flowers and tokens to their mothers
• In North America, early versions of Mother’s Day began with women’s peace movements following the American Civil War

Mother’s Day in Canada

Canada’s Mother’s Day traditions closely followed the American model, with some unique Canadian elements:

• Canada officially recognized Mother’s Day in 1914, following the United States’ declaration
• The holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, much like its American counterpart
• In certain Canadian communities, particularly among Franco-Canadians, variations of Mother’s Day (La Fête des Mères) might be celebrated at different times according to local traditions
• Canadian celebrations typically include flowers (especially carnations), cards, and family gatherings
• A particularly Canadian tradition is the organization of Mother’s Day charity runs and walks in many cities across the country

Mother’s Day in Ukraine

Ukraine’s celebration of motherhood reflects both its unique cultural heritage and more recent international influences:

• Ukraine officially recognized Mother’s Day in 1999, but the tradition of honoring mothers has deep cultural roots
• Mother’s Day in Ukraine is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, aligning with many Western countries
• Ukrainian culture has long revered women as the heart of the family, with mothers celebrated in folk songs, poetry, and religious traditions
• In recent years, with the ongoing war, Mother’s Day in Ukraine has taken on additional significance, honoring the strength and sacrifice of Ukrainian mothers protecting their families during difficult times

The Activist Origins of Mother’s Day

What many people don’t realize is that Mother’s Day began as a women’s movement focused on public health and peace:

• In the 19th century, American activist Ann Reeves Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to combat unsanitary living conditions and reduce infant mortality in West Virginia
• During the American Civil War, she insisted that the women’s groups she organized help both Confederate and Union troops who were sick or wounded, and she worked to promote peace and unity following the war (Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, 2024)
• Julia Ward Howe, author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” called for a “Mother’s Day for Peace” in 1870
• In her “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” Howe urged for the creation of an international body of women who could find ways to avoid war and bloodshed, writing: “I earnestly ask that a general congress of women, without limit of nationality, may be appointed … to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace” (Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, 2024)

Anna Jarvis and the Official Holiday

The decisive figure in establishing Mother’s Day as we know it was Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis:

• After her mother’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis began campaigning for a day to honor all mothers
• In 1907, she organized the first official Mother’s Day service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia
• Her persistence led to widespread recognition, culminating in President Woodrow Wilson declaring it a national holiday in 1914
• Ironically, Jarvis later fought against the commercialization of the holiday, believing it had strayed from her original vision of a day of personal appreciation
• Anna was so distraught over the way Americans observed the holiday that she started a petition to have it recalled in 1943 (Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, 2024)

Indigenous Perspectives on Mother’s Day

Indigenous cultures across North America have unique perspectives on Mother’s Day and motherhood:

• In many Indigenous communities, “every day is mother’s day,” reflecting the continuous honor given to mothers rather than a single holiday (Zotigh, 2020)
• Women are considered sacred in Indigenous philosophies as they are the givers of life
• Indigenous celebrations of Mother’s Day often include powwows, ceremonies, rodeos, feasts, and songs that honour Indigenous mothers
• Many Indigenous Nations have different words for mother in their languages, for example: Ina (Dakota), E tsi (Cherokee), Shimá (Navajo), Nimaamaa (Ojibway), T’daw t’daw (Kiowa), Neinoo (Arapaho), Ishki (Choctaw), and Ka’nisténhsera (Mohawk) (Zotigh, 2020)
• The concept of Mother Earth symbolizes the highest respect Indigenous peoples have for the planet, connecting motherhood to the natural world

Global Mother’s Day Today

Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in various forms around the world:

• Most countries, including Canada and Ukraine, observe Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May
• The UK and Ireland maintain their traditional Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent
• Many countries have chosen dates of specific historical or religious significance:
  • In Belarus, Mother’s Day is celebrated on October 14
  • In Norway, it falls on the second Sunday of February
  • In Argentina, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of October
  • In Thailand, it’s observed on August 12, the birthday of Queen Sirikit
  • In Poland, Mother’s Day is always celebrated on May 26

Despite differences in timing and specific traditions, the core sentiment of honoring mothers and maternal figures remains universal.

Mother’s Day During Challenging Times

In times of crisis, Mother’s Day takes on additional meaning, as we’ve seen recently in Ukraine:

• During the ongoing war, Ukrainian mothers have shown extraordinary resilience
• Special exhibitions and commemorations have honored Ukrainian mothers who have lost children in the conflict
• In neighboring countries like Estonia, special tributes to Ukrainian mothers highlight the international recognition of their courage
• These challenging circumstances remind us of the holiday’s activist roots in promoting peace and healing during times of conflict

Navigating Complexity: The Challenges of Mother’s Day

While Mother’s Day is often portrayed as a joyful celebration of nurturing and love, it can also surface deep emotional complexity. For many, the holiday brings pain, conflict, or exclusion. As educators, caregivers, and social change advocates, it is essential to hold space for the full spectrum of experiences surrounding motherhood and care.

Here are some of the many reasons why Mother’s Day may be difficult for individuals and communities:

• Those who have lost their mothers may experience renewed grief, longing, or a sense of emptiness, especially if the loss was recent or occurred in childhood.
• People who had traumatic, neglectful, or abusive relationships with their mothers may find the day triggers painful memories, feelings of guilt, or unresolved anger.
• Women and gender-diverse people who have experienced pregnancy loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility often face heightened emotional pain during public celebrations of motherhood.
• Single parents — both mothers and fathers — may feel isolated or overwhelmed by idealized images of two-parent families, especially if they lack broader community support.
• LGBTQIA+ families, especially queer, trans, or non-binary parents, may feel invisible or unrecognized when dominant narratives center cisgender, heterosexual motherhood only.
• Adopted children, foster children, or those in kinship care may have complex or conflicting feelings about their biological, adoptive, or foster mothers, or feel unsure how to participate in the day.
• Individuals who have been rejected or estranged from their mothers, including 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals disowned due to identity, may feel abandoned or excluded.
• Mothers who have lost children, through death, estrangement, adoption, or state intervention, often find the day excruciating as it reminds them of what they’ve lost.
• Caregivers who serve in mothering roles without the title of “mother” (e.g., aunties, grandmothers, siblings, chosen family, support workers) may feel their roles are overlooked.
• People navigating non-traditional paths to parenthood, such as surrogacy, fertility treatment, or blended families, may feel left out of standard narratives.
• People who have chosen not to become mothers may feel their decisions are questioned, devalued, or erased during societal celebrations that place motherhood at the center of womanhood.
• Immigrant and refugee mothers may feel profound disconnection, grief, or cultural distance, particularly if they are separated from their children or homeland.
• Those who have experienced coercive or forced motherhood, including survivors of sexual violence or forced birth, may find the holiday retraumatizing.
• Mothers navigating poverty, housing instability, incarceration, or systemic injustice may feel erased or judged by sanitized portrayals of motherhood in mainstream media.
• Students and youth in school systems may feel confusion or exclusion when Mother’s Day activities do not reflect their family structures, especially if they are raised by extended family, in group care, or by LGBTQ+ parents.

Honoring All Stories

Recognizing these realities does not diminish the value of celebrating motherhood — it enriches it. When we hold space for grief, trauma, resilience, and non-traditional family structures, we offer a more truthful, compassionate, and inclusive way to honor care and connection. For many, Mother’s Day is best approached not with assumptions, but with openness, flexibility, and a recognition that care comes in many forms — and so does family.

Educational approaches to Mother’s Day should acknowledge these complexities and create space for diverse experiences. Here are some inclusive strategies for educators and community leaders:

• Frame discussions broadly around care relationships rather than narrowly focusing on biological motherhood
• Recognize diverse family structures and multiple ways people experience nurturing relationships
• Create space for both celebration and grief, acknowledging that holidays trigger complex emotions
• Highlight alternative models of family care across cultures and communities
• Invite personal narrative sharing only as optional activities, never mandatory
• Offer alternative activities for those who prefer not to participate in Mother’s Day-specific events
• Discuss the structural challenges faced by mothers and caregivers, connecting personal experiences to systemic issues
• Acknowledge the labor of all caregivers, regardless of gender or biological relationship
• Explore critical perspectives on the commercialization and idealization of motherhood

By approaching Mother’s Day with sensitivity to its complexities, educators can transform the holiday into an opportunity for deeper understanding of human relationships, care ethics, and social structures that either support or undermine caregiving in society.

Mother’s Day as a Case Study for Social Change Education

Mother’s Day presents a valuable opportunity for educators and social change agents to explore how cultural celebrations can be vehicles for promoting core human values and social transformation:

• Educational Platform: Mother’s Day can serve as a powerful educational tool for discussing the historical roles of women in society, the contributions of mothers to community development, and the evolution of family structures across cultures
• Promoting Core Values: The holiday inherently celebrates the values of love, care, and sharing that are fundamental to building compassionate communities and societies
• Examining Care Labor: The day provides a framework to discuss the often invisibilized care work that sustains communities, opening conversations about gender equity and the valuation of traditionally feminized labor
• Cultural Diversity Teaching: By examining how Mother’s Day is celebrated differently across cultures, educators can foster intercultural understanding and appreciation for diverse family systems
• Intergenerational Learning: The celebration creates natural opportunities for intergenerational dialogue, allowing for the transmission of cultural wisdom and values between different age groups

For courses focused on social change, like Thompson Rivers University’s “Educating for Social Change”, Mother’s Day can be analyzed as a case study in how holidays simultaneously reflect and shape social values. The evolution of Mother’s Day from its activist roots to its current forms demonstrates how cultural practices are sites for both reinforcing and challenging dominant social narratives.

The day also invites critical examination of how commercialization can transform the meaning of celebrations, raising questions about how authentic values of care can be preserved and promoted in consumer-oriented societies. Through Mother’s Day, students can explore the tension between personal expressions of gratitude and the broader structural changes needed to truly honor and support mothers and caregivers in society.

Conclusion

From ancient goddess festivals to modern celebrations, Mother’s Day represents our enduring recognition of the vital role mothers play in our families and societies. Whether in Ukraine, Canada, or anywhere in the world, the day serves as a reminder to honor those who nurture, protect, and love unconditionally.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we participate in a tradition that spans millennia and crosses cultural boundaries. Despite its various incarnations, the essence remains the same: taking time to appreciate the remarkable women who shape our world through their care, sacrifice, and love.

No matter how you celebrate or when your country observes this special day, the sentiment behind Mother’s Day is timeless – honoring the irreplaceable contributions of mothers everywhere.

References

Wikipedia contributors. (2025). “День матері” [Mother’s Day]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/День_матері

Wikipedia contributors. (2025). “Mother’s Day”. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother’s_Day

Жабська, Є. (2025, May 10). “День матері: історія свята, цікаві факти, коли і як відзначати” [Mother’s Day: history of the holiday, interesting facts, when and how to celebrate]. Glavcom.ua. https://glavcom.ua/country/society/den-materi-2025-istoriia-sviata-tsikavi-fakty-koly-i-yak-vidznachaty-925097.html

Панасюк, Л., & Коропецька, А. (2025, May 11). “Чому ми відзначаємо День матері уже понад 100 років: історія свята” [Why we have been celebrating Mother’s Day for over 100 years: the history of the holiday]. Українська правда. Життя. https://life.pravda.com.ua/society/2025/05/11/254244/

Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. (2024, May 1). The History of Mother’s Day: From Global Peace to Greeting Cards. https://womenshistory.si.edu/blog/history-mothers-day-global-peace-greeting-cards

Zotigh, D. W. (2020, May 8). How Do American Indians Celebrate Mother’s Day? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-indian/2020/05/08/mothers-day/