The benefits of being a Mexican mother

That time of the year in which we celebrate the most beloved human beings on Earth has arrived.

Every May, millions of us dedicate a day or two to those women who after about nine months of carrying us in their wombs finally bring us into this world. In fact, a few days ago I heard on a radio station that Mothers’ Day is the third most widely known and celebrated holiday in the world, just behind Christmas and Easter.

It is during the fifth month of the year that children hold a special festivity for mothers, with millions of people around the globe flocking stores to purchase flower bouquets, boxes of chocolates, blouses, purses and many other items preferred by our mothers that humble presents that are far from equalizing the sacrifices made in raising us.

As with many other issues, the world has not come to a consensus in the holiday’s date. Although March 8 is officially Mothers’ Day at the international level, the holiday is observed from February in Norway to December in Indonesia, while many Islamic countries celebrate during the spring equinox.

In total, 87 countries celebrate Mother’s Day during the second Sunday of May, including the United States, Venezuela, Honduras, India, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, Finland, Greece, Switzerland, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Austria, Australia and Japan.

Mothers’ Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis at St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, W.V.

Anna campaigned since 1905 — the year her mother died — for the date was declared a national holiday. In fact, Ann Jarvis was a peace activist and a person who took care of wounded warriors during the Civil War. In 191o West Virginia was the first state to formally recognize the holiday, something President Woodrow Wilson replicated four years later at the national level.

Jarvis eventually attempted to boycott the date as many companies began commercializing the holiday.

Mexican President Alvaro Obregón introduced the holiday from the U.S. in 1922. Over the years the celebration has been given different interpretations, with the Catholic Church and conservatives observing the date from a religious perspective while liberals opting to underline the concept of family as the societal foundation.

Mexico’s Mother’s Day was set as May 10, as well as in El Salvador and Guatemala.

In our neighboring country, working moms get the day off — regardless of the day — while public agencies and private companies hold parties in their honor. Those who can afford it or are able to spare time take a mariachi, a norteño band or at least a music trio to sing early May 10 the Mexican version of the “Happy Birthday” — “Las Mañanitas.” As occurs in many parts of the U.S. restaurants are flocked by children who attempt to dine their mothers. At schools, kids prepare special artistic and music festivals for the same reasons.

As written above, Mother’s Day in the United States is celebrated the second Sunday in May, while Mexico’s Día de las Madres is always May 10. Few times the celebrations coincide. The last time it happened was two years ago.

So, the best part of being a Mexican mother is being a Mexican mother in the U.S., as they benefit with double parties, double gifts and double celebration to honor those women who have been our mentors, counselors, teachers, nurses, cooks and only they know what else they have made to give us a better future.

For all of you — Happy Mother’s Day and Feliz Día de las Madres. Arturo Bojorquez is Adelante Valle Editor.