Happy Mother's Day Around The World Quiz

Answer: Anna Jarvis

Anna Jarvis' mother worked tirelessly before and during the Civil War to teach women in her West Virginia area how to care for their children. After her death, Anna began a crusade to create a day honoring mothers and their role in people's lives in America. By 1908, the first official celebration occurred at a church in West Virginia and the symbol was the white carnation. Anna sent years sending letters to various celebrities and government officials before Woodrow Wilson signed the measure making it the second Sunday of each May. Whereas Anna Jarvis had originally intended it to be a quiet affair involving simple carnations and faith gatherings, the holiday quickly grew to be a large commercial endeavor across many industries with people buying gifts to give to their mothers.

Answer: Cooking

For hundreds of years, citizens of India have celebrated festivals such as Durga Puja. This is a ten day celebration in the fall that honors the mother goddess. Indian traditions have long highlighted the special bond between a mother and her children and therefore the country was very welcoming to the globalization of a Mother's Day holiday specific to one's own family. Occurring the second Sunday in May, it is a time that kids let their mother rest from her kitchen duties and, instead, fix her favorite meal themselves and invite others to join.

Answer: Artwork they created

A form of Mother's Day was celebrated in Japan on March 6 during the early 1900s, in the showa period, to honor the Empress. It was further impressed upon the country by travelling Christian missionaries. By the 1930s the Japanese had begun observing the date in May and took it up in earnest following World War II. Children get up early in the morning, greet their mother, and present her with a drawing they created.

These drawings are then exhibited in stores and supermarkets across the country for others to view.

The drawings range from simple "stick people" images to elaborate paint and calligraphy exhibits.

Answer: Simnel cake

For centuries, the United Kingdom has celebrated Mothering Sunday during Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday. The tradition began when working class citizens were allowed to leave the larger homes and estates where they worked for a day to visit their home church and family.

They would often pick flowers on their way home and bring them to their mothers. Once at their house, a simnel cake cake was baked which is a rich fruitcake topped with eleven marzipan balls representing Jesus' apostles (less Judas). By 1913, Mothering Sunday not only continued the historical traditions but also incorporated more of the commercialization of the holiday in the United States.

Answer: They tie the mother to the bed and demand treats

The first thing in the morning, the children sneak into the parents' bedroom and tie their mother to the bed. In order to be released, she must give the children hidden gifts or treats. This is part of a three day celebration that occurs in early December each year. On Children's Day the kids are tied up and must promise to be good before being released. On Father's Day the dad of the house is tied up and can only be let go upon promising clothes or expensive gifts that will be part of the Christmas celebration.

It is all harmless fun and an interesting way to celebrate the day!

Answer: Little plastic flowers

Mother's Day in Sweden began in the early 1920s when Cecilia Holmberg suggested the day be celebrated in late May when beautiful flowers were blooming. Children still sell small plastic flowers as gifts to raise money. The profits are then used to send mothers on small "getaway" trips or given to mothers in need.

The day is also used to make mothers feel special with a nice dinner out or breakfast in bed.

Answer: Butter

The Mother's Day celebration in Ethiopia highlights not only the role of the mother in the family but also the changing of the seasons around May. It is a three day festival where friends and family gather. They fix a large meal of one of the country's delicacies called hash.

The children participate by bringing the ingredients. The boys bring the meat and the girls gather vegetables and spices. After the meal, mothers and daughters rub each other with butter and then sing while the men and boys do a traditional dance.

Answer: Jasmine

Since 1976, Thailand has embraced August 12th as Mother's Day. It is the birthday of Queen Sirikit who is considered the mother of all of her people. During the celebration, people form a parade and make their way to the palace past the buildings covered with her portraits and beautiful lights. Music is performed and gifts of flowers are left. Within an individual's own family, the day begins with giving money to the monks in honor of the Queen's own welfare policies.

Then children kneel down before their mother and are blessed by her. Small bouquets, or even single flowers, of jasmine are given out to symbolize the pure love of a mother and her child.

Answer: Being serenaded with songs

Mother's Day became a national holiday in Mexico in 1940 and had its roots in the religious significance of the Virgin Mary. The government also aided the movement in making it a holiday by helping to find jobs or occupations for some of the less fortunate working women.

The country starts its celebration on the night of May 9th when children, no matter the age, come home to their mother. The next day the morning begins with children singing her a song. Many families even invite mariachi bands in to help with the song. Following the music, families attend church and then a big meal ends the day. Reservations at restaurants are sometimes made weeks, even months, out.

Answer: Cemetery

Over 90% of the people of Peru celebrate Mother's Day and usually have a series of parties and gatherings in the days leading up to it. On the actual day itself, people go to church, spend time with their mother, and enjoy a nice meal. Many families spend part of the day at the cemetery where they honor their deceased mothers or grandmothers. Outside of the gates, vendors sell balloons and flowers and snacks. People clean the tombstones and have a light meal or drink and leave behind a small token of their love.