Mexico stands out as a nation where families devote their heart and soul to Mother’s Day celebrations.
Día de las Madres is invariably commemorated on May 10, regardless of the day of the week marked on the calendar.
While not officially designated on either the country’s civic or liturgical calendars, Día de las Madres may qualify as one of the most widely and fervently celebrated of all Mexican holidays. Since it so often falls on a weekday, everyday life is commonly disrupted. Government and many business employers usually grant working moms a day off from their jobs. Progeny may blow off work routines in favor of regaling their mothers. No one minds.
Festivities in the Lake Chapala region generally start in the wee hours as moms awaken to musical serenades performed at their doorsteps. As day breaks, sky rockets fired off at local cemeteries herald memorial services honoring mothers who have passed on to greener fields.
It’s a day moms enjoy a break from the drudgery of household chores. Offspring with deep pockets will take Mamá out to dine at an upscale restaurant. Others pitch in to prepare a home-cooked comida featuring her favorite dishes. Big family gatherings honoring two or three generations of mothers are popular in all social strata.
Día de las Madres calls for special gifts. Fresh flowers, from simple bouquets to extravagant arrangements, are de rigueur. Other tokens of affection may be practical household items such as new dishes, glassware, kitchen utensils or major appliances. The latest fashions in clothing and accessories, jewelry, perfumes, or electronic gadgets are other choices. What counts are not material goods per se, but the invisible wrapping of genuine love and appreciation for the women regarded as the pillars of the Mexican family.