When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find. – Mitch Albom
At Earth Animal, one of our favorite holidays is Mother’s Day, where mothers of all kinds are honored for all of the wonderful things that they do to take care of others. Since mothers come from every place and take many forms, we love to celebrate all the mothers all around the world.
In the United States, mothers are celebrated every second Sunday in May with flowers, gifts, special meals, and family time. But in other parts of the world, Mother’s Day looks a bit different. In Ethiopia, for example, mothers are celebrated in a three-day festival every Fall that also marks the end of the rainy season. The celebration consists of a giant shared meal of traditional foods, with boys contributing meat and girls contributing vegetables and spices. In Japan, Mother’s Day originally commemorated Empress Kojun’s birthday, changing in 1913 to a day to celebrate all mothers. On the second Sunday of May, Japanese children give their moms carnations. Russian children gift their mothers handmade crafts on the last Sunday in November each year. Originally an organized day of rebellion for women’s rights begun in 1940, it wasn’t until 1998 that Mother’s Day became an officially recognized holiday in Russia. Mothers in Mexico are typically awakened early on May 10 every year by songs sung by their children or performed by Mariachi bands. They then attend morning Mass and celebrate with a community breakfast afterward.
In addition to these traditional celebrations, there are also celebrations to mark the special bond between mothers and their fur babies. Since 2018 in the United States, on the second Saturday of every May, National Dog Mom’s Day is observed to commemorate the loving care that dog mom’s give to their pups. Some fun ways to spend National Dog Mom’s Day include going on a special hike with your furry best friend, sharing a unique treat like frozen watermelon pieces, having a picnic with your dog’s favorite foods, or visiting the dog park with friends. For some extra special fun, bring your dog shopping at your favorite local pet store to pick out some new toys and treats, hire a photographer to take portraits of you and your pup, or have a favorite photo of your dog painted onto a mug or t-shirt. Whatever you choose to do, spending time with your dog is the best way to celebrate.
While many celebrations focus on human mothers and their babies, at Earth Animal we believe that it is important to honor mothers of all kinds – animal and human – because mothering anyone is one of the biggest acts of kindness and selflessness a person can do, and it is one that people everywhere honor. Whether a mom to a human baby or a fur baby, in the United States or anywhere around the world, there is no greater love than the love of a mother. Happy Mother’s Day from Earth Animal to all mothers everywhere!
