The origin of Mother’s Day as we know it today can be traced back to the American women’s movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1907, Anna Marie Jarvis, a Methodist from the US, held a “Memorial Mother’s Day Meeting” in honour of her late mother. Motivated by this gesture, she launched a campaign to have Mother’s Day recognised as an official holiday. Her efforts paid off: in 1914, the United States officially celebrated the day for the first time. Today, it is celebrated in the US on the second Sunday of May.
From there, the tradition spread rapidly across the globe. Switzerland was among the first European countries to adopt the celebration, introducing it in 1917. Germany followed in 1923, and France established it by decree in 1926, setting the date as the fourth Sunday in May.
In Luxembourg, Mother’s Day traditionally falls on the second Sunday in June. Although not a public holiday, it is widely observed in many households. Mothers are often offered gifts and tokens of appreciation, and families typically mark the day with a shared meal, either at home or in a restaurant.
Despite its popularity, Mother’s Day has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years. One major point of criticism is its growing commercialisation. In fact, Anna Marie Jarvis herself eventually disavowed the day she helped create, going so far as to demand its abolition.
There is also critique from women’s rights advocates, who argue that Mother’s Day promotes a narrow and outdated image of women – one that centres primarily on their role as mothers, rather than recognising them as individuals with diverse identities and ambitions.
So while Mother’s Day in Luxembourg remains a cherished tradition for many, it is also a moment that invites reflection, particularly on how we honour motherhood, and on the evolving roles and expectations of women in society.
