By Lacey Johnson

Mother’s Day in New Zealand is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May, and it is commonly referred to as “Mum’s Day.”   New Zealanders celebrate Mother’s Day as a way to “thank mothers for their efforts in bringing them up and caring for them.”  Unlike other countries, they celebrate all mothers:  mothers of friends, coworkers and  other relatives.   Mother’s day in New Zealand is important because 86% of women in their forties have at least one child.  Unlike some other countries, the median age of birth in New Zealand is thirty.

 Just like the American tradition, the “Mum’s Day” celebration in New Zealand can be traced back to a festival in honor of Rhea in Ancient Greece,  was the mother of Greek gods.  This festival was originally held during the Ides of March (March 15) through March 18.  The celebration of Mother’s Day in New Zealand can also be traced back to the Matronalia celebration of ancient Rome.  This was a Roman holiday that was dedicated to Juno, where gifts were given to mothers.

New Zealanders celebrate Mother’s Day with the same basic traditions of other countries.  They serve their mothers’ breakfast in bed and prepare special cakes similar to the ones prepared for Mothering Sunday in England and other European countries.  They give their mothers a rest from the daily household chores and their daily kitchen work.  Mothers are typically pampered with spa and beauty treatments on this day.  It is also a very common practice to take mum out for a luncheon picnic followed by dinner later in the evening at a restaurant.

Happy Mum’s Day!