Mothers Day in Japan and China

Mothers Day in Japan is on the second Sunday in May. The holiday was first observed by Christians around 1913. By the 1930’s Mothers Day was celebrated with large gatherings but the holiday was prohibited during the World War II, like many other Western customs. After the war the holiday was revived, as a means of consoling the children and women who lost their fathers and husbands, during the war. Mothers Day holiday was spear all around the country by 1950.

Today Mothers Day is celebrated throughout Japan. On this day people gift carnations to their mothers. This is the way to say “Thank you” to the woman who raised them with love and care. This is the most preferred gift. But also the other traditional gifts like cookies, candles, books, and home made gifts are popular. The kids between 6 and 14 years have the opportunity to draw their mothers and to enter in an art contest. The exhibition with these drawings travel all over the world, from town to town.

In China is celebrated in similar way on the second Sunday in May. Mothers Day there is popular like China Sunday. On this day the women have a day off and spend their time at home relaxing all the day. There is popular the custom the girls to bring out special dolls. The dolls are dressed in rd and they are taken out only once a year -on Mothers day. Some families prefer to spend this day at home having special dinner, while other families prefer celebrating the holiday on a restaurant. At the end of the evening the father gives small presents to his wife and his daughters. When the family goes back home the girls store their red dressed dolls and keep them for the next years Mothers Day.