Mother’s Day in Mexico

Mother’s Day is big in Mexico.  Like countries such as El Salvador, Oman and Guatemala, it’s celebrated on the 10th of May.  (Canada is with the majority, celebrating on the second Sunday in May, but there are many other dates, most between March and May)

On Día de la Madre, you’ll see long lines of people trying to buy expensive (for Mexico) flowers, packed restaurants, and even some people not bothering to come to work because they’re celebrating with Mom.  There are some special events on the day, and it’s a great time for community outreaches.  There was an event at the university, and Shari got a white rose at school (her favourite!).

Our church did some special things that Sunday after Día de la Madre.  The kids gave cookies-on-a-stick to all the Moms (very quickly, because the temptation was almost too great).

Also, in the middle of the service we all got up and picked out white and red roses.  Then we went out into the neighbourhood looking for Moms.  When we found a Mom, we gave them a rose (with a tag with a Scripture verse on it).  They seemed quite delighted (especially the lady that got a rose from Nathanael!).  I thought it was a good idea – simple, fun, colourful, beautiful, and somewhat random and spontaneous.

[addendum] Another perspective on our church outreach from Sunday morning can be found here.