Home » Travel » Germanic Culture » A German Mother’s Day

A German Mother’s Day

© Sylvia Cochran

Just like their American counterparts, Germans also celebrate a Mother's Day (Muttertag) on the second Sunday in May. While the holiday became "official" for Americans in 1914, Germans had to wait until 1933 to have the celebration declared a holiday. Interestingly enough, as early as 1926 the movement was underfoot to have the occasion declared as an official holiday. This move was pushed by none other than the German Florist Union (Verband Deutscher Blumenhändler) under the leadership of one Rudolf Knauer.

The 1933 state sponsored holiday took on more of the Third Reich ideology that encouraged women to bear offspring for the fatherland, and was less the celebration of gratitude that children (and others) express to their mothers. After the demise of Nazi-Germany, and the founding of the German republic (Bundesrepublik) in 1949, Mother's Day again took on the individualized celebration for mothers. Interestingly, in the walled-off Eastern Germany (DDR), Mother's Day was not a celebrated event. In its stead, a state-sponsored "International Women's Day" (Internationaler Frauentag) was observed on March 8th.

Celebrations in honor of mom at this time are very much like the celebrations American moms enjoy. Very traditional Germans will wear a white carnation in a jacket buttonhole in remembrance of a mother passed on, or a colored carnation for a mother still living. Yet modernization has struck even this holiday, and some of the lesser known celebrations/quirkier gift ideas include...

• ...the official "German to Baby/Baby to German" dictionary by Langenscheidt (the company who can translate anything). (1)
• ...a legal "photo stamp" the post office will recognize. It may sport your photo or that of mom. What better way of sending a Mother's Day card and having your smiling mug on the envelope? (2)
• ...a piece of real estate on Mars, Venus or the Moon (for the mother who has everything) (3)
• ...a mini-Voodoo set (complete with doll and needles--small enough to be attached to the key ring) for the mother who has enough of all she has (4)

If these ideas are a bit too exotic, take heart! The average German mother still receives the hand-crafted ashtray/book jacket, potted plant, candy, and perfume (usually Kölnisch Wasser). More often than not, brunch or dinner at a nice restaurant is also part of the celebration, although the trend is reversing a bit and more and more mothers prefer the quiet meal with her family at home, and the promise of uninterrupted quality family time.

---

1. ISBN 3468203608, available at www.amazon.de

The copyright of the article A German Mother’s Day in Germanic Culture is owned by . Permission to republish A German Mother’s Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.