A note from doug: For parts of the world, today marks a special day. A day we say “Thanks” to our Moms for all they have done for us over the years. After a little research, I discovered that Mother’s Day is celebrated at all different times during the year (see list below). For some I am right on schedule, for others a little late and for the rest a little early.
My Mother’s Day message to the world is below the list of dates & countries.
Happy Mother’s Day!!
— doug
Date Celebrated: Countries Celebrating
Second Sunday in February: Norway
Shevat 30 (falls anywhere between January 30 and March 1): Israel
March 3: Georgia
March 8: Afghanistan, Albania*, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Laos, Macedonia*, Montenegro, Moldova*, Montenegro, Romania*, Russia*, Serbia, Ukraine. (*In Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Guyana, Italy, Macedonia, Mongolia, and Russia the day is observed as International Women’s Day – not specifically Mothers’ Day).
Fourth Sunday in Lent: (Mothering Sunday) Ireland, Nigeria, United Kingdom
March 21 (Vernal Equinox): Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen (most Arab countries)
March 25: Slovenia
April 7: Armenia
Baisakh (Mata Tirtha Aunsi – April/May): Nepal
First Sunday in May: Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain
May 8: Albania (Parents’ Day), South Korea (Parents’ Day)
May 10: El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico
Second Sunday in May: Anguilla, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cura…ao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, St. Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
May 26: Poland
May 27: Bolivia
Last Sunday in May: Algeria, Dominican Republic, France*, Haiti, Mauritius, Morocco, Sweden, Tunisia *(except if the day falls on Pentecost Sunday, in which case Mother’s Day will be celebrated on the first Sunday of June)
May 30: Nicaragua
June 1: Mongolia (The Mothers and Children’s Day. Mongolia is the only country that celebrates Mother’s day twice a year.)
2nd Sunday of June: Luxembourg
Last Sunday of June: Kenya
August 12: Thailand (the birthday of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara)
August 15 (Assumption Day): Antwerp (Belgium), Costa Rica
Second Monday in October: Malawi
October 14: Belarus
Third Sunday in October: Argentina (D…a de la Madre)
Last Sunday of November: Russia
December 8: Panama
December 22: Indonesia
A MOTHER’S CROWN:
Heaven lit up with His mighty presence,
As all the angels looked down,
Today the Lord was placing the jewels
In all the mothers’ crowns.
As He held up a golden crown
As all the mothers looked on,
He said in His gentle voice,
“I just want to explain each stone.”
He held the first gem in His hand,
But the radiance couldn’t match His own.
For He was the light of Heaven
Reflecting off each of the stones.
“The first gem,” He said, “is an emerald,
And it’s for endurance alone,
For all the nights you waited up
For your children to come home.
…For all the nights by their bedside
You stayed till the fever went down,
For nursing every little wound,
I add this emerald to your crown.”
“A ruby, I’ll place by the emerald,
For leading your child in the right way,
For if you hadn’t taught them about Me,
They wouldn’t be here with you today.
…For always being right there
Thru all life’s important events,
I give you a sapphire stone
For the time and love you spent.”
“For untying the strings that held them
When they grew up and left home,
I give you this one for courage.”
Then the Lord added an amethyst stone.
“I’ll place a stone of garnet,” He said,
“For all the times you spent on your knees,
When you asked Me to take care of your children,
And them for having faith in Me.”
“I have a pearl for every little sacrifice
That you made without them knowing,
For all the times you went without
To keep them happy, healthy, and growing.”
“And last of all I have a diamond,
The greatest of all gems,
For those mothers who lost their children
When they came home to heaven before them.”
“This is the most precious sacrifice,
So I give the most precious stone,
For I know just how you felt,
I too lost a child of My own.”
After the Lord placed the last jewel in,
He said, “Heaven is now complete,
For every mother has her crown of jewels,
And all her children are at her feet.”
— Author Unknown