By Khyria Cepe

Every year on the second Sunday of May, the world celebrates Mother’s Day with flowers and presents. However, the Chinese have decided to rise above the usual commercialized celebration by holding a festival deeply rooted in tradition and good values. In 2007, Chinese scholar Li Hanqiu spearheaded the move for China’s very own Mother’s Day Festival.

Combining Chinese customs with traditional values such as love and respect for parents and the elderly, Li Hanqiu has encouraged his countrymen to celebrate this otherwise Western holiday as a way to promote and revive family loyalty. Along with members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Li Hanqiu proposed that they celebrate the Chinese Mother’s Day Festival on the second Sunday of the fourth lunar month to coincide with the birth of Confucian philosopher Mencius, whose mother is considered as the epitome of maternal devotion and love.

Dedicating the occasion to Mencius’ mother, a legendary woman who is seen as a role model for mothers, separates the occasion from the commercialism that is associated with this event and gives it a cultural impact. He also proposed that lilies be given out to mothers instead of the more modern choice of carnations, to commemorate the old practice of mothers planting lilies as a sign of sorrow when their children left their home.

Undeniably though, this celebration is still likely to be celebrated as much of the world by giving mothers presents such as jewelry and chocolate or holding special events for women.

However, as the Chinese say “mu qin jié” (Happy Mother’s Day), Li Hanqiu seizes this event as the perfect opportunity to encourage Chinese youth to remember, uphold, and strengthen age-old customs, such as honor and respect for mothers and devotion to family…which may be sometimes forgotten as the Chinese keep up with the rest of the world.

母親節快) Mǔqīnjié kuàilè – Happy Mother’s Day Festival! “mu qin jié”