Many centuries ago, a respect for mothers was deeply rooted in Portuguese paganism that flourished across the country since he beginning days of Portugal. This respect was linked to mother earth and all feminine aspects of nature. And what today is known as Mother’s Day was in fact celebrated during the June Solstice as part of a pagan ceremony.
Many historians believe that the modern day tradition of honoring our mothers dates back to the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. The Greeks dedicated their spring festival to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and the Romans made offerings mid-March to the goddess Magna Mater, great mother, dating back to 250 BC.
The celebration of the “catholic church as the mother church” replaced these so-called pagan festivals as a result of the spread of Christianity throughout Europe. The “church” promoted the belief that itself was a spiritual power giving life, and protected its people from harm. To ensure this support from the church it became customary to bring gifts to the church. Since then, this gift giving has evolved to the flowers, cards and presents that we give mom’s today.
However, as Catholicism took over the Portuguese country, from around 1854, the catholic church in an attempt to curb and negate pagan costumes that honored women, created its own Mother’s Day linked to the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception date, the date of 8 December was then selected because it could be linked to the catholic church day of honoring Virgin Mary. This date was used until the late 60’s. I still remember as a child giving both my mom and my grannies Mother’s Day cards on 8 December, although there was pressure for the use of the first Sunday in May as the authorized "correct" day.
We need to be cognizant that the catholic church played a major role in Portugal religion landscape along the centuries.
During the Salazar’s regime (1932-1968), Mother’s Day was heavily promoted as a way to promote traditional family values and to encourage women to stay at home and take care of their families. However, after the Revolution of 1974, Mother’s Day took on a more commercial aspect, with a commercial focus shifting towards gift-givingy. Around the same time, the first Sunday in May was heavily promoted in our opinion in an endeavor to move families away from the Christian religion.
Nonetheless, Mother’s Day in Portugal is a day to celebrate the unconditional love, the sacrifices, and support that mothers give their kids. Whether you are in Portugal or anywhere else in the world, take some time on Mother’s Day to reflect on the important role that mothers play in our lives.
And if you happen to be in Portugal during this special holiday, why not join in on the celebrations and experience the joy and love that surrounds Mother’s Day in this beautiful country. Traditionally, Mother’s Day in Portugal is celebrated with a special mass dedicated to mothers and mother figures. This is followed by a family lunch or dinner where children present their mothers with gifts such as flowers, chocolates, or handmade cards. It is also common for children to give their mothers a small gift or card at school to show their appreciation.
In addition to gift-giving, many families also take this opportunity to spend quality time together. Some may go for a walk or have a picnic in a park, while others may opt for a day trip or visit relatives. This tradition of spending time with family on Mother’s Day is deeply ingrained in Portuguese culture and is seen as a way to strengthen familial bonds.
Enjoy Mother's Day wherever you are.
