By Megan Jungwi

Guatemala is a third world country holding some of the poorest women in Central America. Most Guatemalans live on $2.00 a day and women still suffer from gross inequalities. However, Mother’s Day is recognized in Guatemala and every year mothers throughout the country are celebrated by the nation.

In 1968 Guatemala’s Congress formally declared May 10^th as Mother’s Day. Decree 1794 stated that ‘the mother is the foundation of the family and from her come the morals and spiritual norms that extend to all civilized people’. The decree also explained that the purpose of Mother’s Day was to recognize the importance of mothers, ‘exalting her before the whole Republic, in order to strengthen in the conscience of Guatemalans her high spiritual significance…as a source of perpetual inspiration”. In addition to acknowledging the importance of mothers Congress also declared that mothers who work for the State and for certain companies would be able to take the day off with pay.

Today, many children also get time off from school in order to celebrate Mother’s Day and wish their mother a “Feliz día de las madres”. On Mother’s Day morning children wake up and go their mother’s room to give her gifts. Some families will visit grandmothers throughout the day, having breakfast with one and dinner with the other. Some families will invite many mothers to their home, play games, exchange gifts and give advice. 

Guatemala certainly took a step in the right direction in creating Mother’s Day and acknowledging the importance mothers play to society. However, many mothers are too worried about poverty, malnutrition, and the burdens of prejudice to be able to truly celebrate their day. Respect for women and mothers is still not as pervasive throughout Guatemalan society as it must be.

So on your Mother’s Day take a moment to reflect on the plight of Guatemalan women and other women throughout the world whose rights are still being compromised or denied.

“Feliz día de las madres”