Even though I was born and raised and currently live in London, when I think of Mother’s Day I also think of the Spring Equinox, flowers and pomegranate seeds. In the Middle East, Iranian, Iraqi and Lebanese Mother’s Day falls on the first day of spring, 21st March, and is therefore called ‘Eid Nawroz’ (Festival of the flowers). During this time I called my grandmother and mum, bought my mum flowers and a nice bunch for myself too!

 A few days passed and I heard people speaking about Mother’s Day (in the UK it falls on the last Sunday in March) and it got me wondering – why do different countries celebrate the day of their mother on different days? ‘Mother’ is a universal concept, and we can all agree – without our mother’s we wouldn’t be here (yes, I know, science could outrule this, etc. etc. etc.) – so shouldn’t it fall on the same day?

In the UK, Mothering Sunday was originally picked at this time because it was close to Easter, and devout Christians went to visit their ‘Mother Church’. Domestic servants were given the day off, and as the tradition goes, would pick flowers for the purpose of their church – then hand it to their mothers instead!

In the US, just before the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, a leader of the ‘mum’s group’ established during the Civil War, Anna Jarvis, campaigned for a different date in May, in honour of her mother who had died that month. Her campaign was more than successful with the American President at the time, Woodrow Wilson, formally acknowledging this celebratory day!

In the Middle East, Eid Nawroz also falls on Iranian New Year, so is an extra special time for Persians (and Iraqi’s who think because they’re neighbours they can jump on the bandwagon when in actual fact Iraqi’s love celebrating for anything – and I can vouch for this as a fellow Iraqi). For Zoroastrians this is also considered a Holy Day.

 Persian tradition claims the origins of Nowruz lie in the mythical King Jamshid’s salvation of mankind from a desolate winter that was set to kill all living creature’s on earth. He did so by creating an embellished jewels and ordered his demon servants to raise him above the earth, into the heavens where he sat, shimmering like the Sun. In gratitude to his salvation, living creature’s of the earth then scattered jewels around him, announcing this day as the New Day (Now Ruz).

So, which version do you prefer? I know I’m definitely biased, but my favourite story has to be Eid Nowruz. There’s so much history behind it, and it’s not just by chance that they chose one of the most important days of the Earth’s astronomical cycle. It’s also a day of giving thanks to new beginnings, epitomised by Spring, and I think it’s a wonderful image to connect our mother’s, fertility and the joys of Spring together.