Image Credit: Jamilah A.Hassan
Although Mother’s Day is celebrated globally, people in Glasgow are wondering if this occasion is still truly sincere.
No matter which country people live in, what the date of this special day is or what are its traditions, Mother’s Day is the celebration of all mothers around the world.
While in the UK Mother’s Day is honoured on 6 March, many other countries mark this day on different dates and have different traditions, although this is quite similar in most European countries and the United States.
Mothers most often receive flowers, presents and cards and, in some cases, families organize dinners in a restaurant or an intimate gathering at home.
Saara Viitanen, a Finnish girl studying in Glasgow, stated: “We celebrate it in May instead of March. Otherwise, it’s quite similar I think, we give a Mother’s Day gift to the mother and spend time together, have a meal and coffee and cake. “
Carmen Candal, a US student, said: “For us, we go to the same restaurant every year. Most people go out to eat, because moms don’t want to cook, and dads normally don’t cook in households. […] For some, it is relaxing at home, and for others, it’s spending time outdoors.”
However, Mother’s Day has changed over the time and it seems that it is now perceived as a commercial day.
A few days before the celebration, high street stores in Glasgow are adorned with ads and decorations and the city is submerged by people’s footfalls in a hurry to find gifts for mothers.
Maze spoke with Glaswegians to see what they think about this annual celebration.
Hashley Gallagher stated: “It’s a lot more materialistic now than what it was back then.”
Dave Clark added: “Now you see so many adverts and shop’s windows and so, and I think it’s a very commercialized process now compared to how it was when I was a lot younger.”
Any maternal figures, whether they are biological mothers, stepmothers, mother in-laws, foster mums and grandmothers, are celebrated on this special day.
Saara Viitanen, added: “I think it’s important to celebrate it because these women deserve the recognition and surely they appreciate it. Even better if you could tell them you appreciate and love it every day, but at the very least you can do it on Mother’s Day”.
Mr R. Mehmood, owner of a flower shop in Glasgow, said that sales are linked to the celebration. He added: “Most of the time it is women buying for their mothers, mother in-laws, grans, nans and such. Very rarely you’d see men buying for their mums.”
However, many people agreed that mothers should be celebrated every day rather than waiting on Mother’s Day.
Video realized by Lucie Jung
GOOD TO KNOW * Although various festivities around the theme of the mother existed since ancient times, it was not until the 16th century that annual celebration of Mother’s Day emerged.
Mother’s Day started in England and the United States where it was initially called Mothering Day. It was during the first world war that US soldiers spread this tradition in Europe.
The UK adopted this celebration in 1914, Germany made it official in 1923 and many other countries followed soon after, such as Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey and Australia.
In England, Mother’s Day is always celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, around mid-March.*
