Mother’s Day in Latin America: How It Is Celebrated Differently From the Rest of the World
In the United States, it is almost Mother's Day as it is usually celebrated on the second Sunday in May. However, this is not so for many Latin American countries. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images

In the United States, Mother's Day is usually celebrated on the second Sunday of May. However, this is different for many countries in Latin America.

Like in the US, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Honduras also celebrate Mother's Day every second Sunday of May, with this year falling on May 14.

According to the Latin American Alliance, countries in Latin America that also celebrate Mother's Day in May include Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize, which all celebrate the occasion on May 10.

On the other hand, Paraguay celebrates it on May 15, the same day when the country also celebrates its Independence Day. Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Haiti also celebrate Mother's Day in May.

Bolivia celebrates the occasion on May 27, while Nicaragua celebrates it on May 30. Both the Dominican Republic and Haiti celebrate Mother's Day every last Sunday of May. Spain is celebrating the occasion on the first Sunday of May.

As for those countries in Latin America that do not celebrate Mother's Day in May, Costa Rica celebrates it on August 15, while Argentina celebrates it every third Sunday of October. The last to celebrate is Panama, which is every December 8.

Mother's Day in Latin America

While these countries in Latin America celebrate Mother's Day on different dates, the core of the occasion is still the same. Everyone celebrates their mothers for all that they have done for us. However, each country still has a few differences, and the date they celebrate it plays a factor.

Peru

Peru's Mother's Day celebration is more of a spiritual affair. While it celebrates the occasion at the same time as the US and other countries, the country usually has feasts and all sorts of celebrations for their mothers.

For those who are not with us anymore, Peruvians often visit the graves of their deceased mothers, clean them, and decorate them with flowers.

Mexico

In Mexico, celebrations of Mother's Day are done in churches, schools, and all over the city. Children usually start the day by serenading their mothers with the traditional song, "Las Mañanitas," or "The Dawn, sometimes accompanied by a hired mariachi band.

Brazil

Brazil takes it a bit more seriously, as Mother's Day is considered second to Christmas. It is treated more as a commercial holiday in the country, with people buying gifts for their mothers, like perfumes, clothes, or expensive dinners.

Panama

Panama celebrates Mother's Day alongside the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. According to Sherlock Communications, it is more of a religious affair in the country than a commercial one, like in Brazil and other countries.

Argentina

Like in Panama, Mother's Day in Argentina also celebrates the Virgin Mary. However, it is also a bit commercialized as mothers are given gifts and treated to expensive dinners.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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