Heart of flowers in Thessaloniki for Mother's Day

About two thousand pots of beautiful petunias were needed to form a large flower heart in Thessaloniki.

Mother's Day in 2021 was on May 9, a celebration honouring mothers and grandmothers, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

"Today we celebrate our most beloved person, our mother. Her celebration is always in May and a beautiful spring flower is the smallest offer we can make to the person who was, is and will always be by our side," said the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas.

He also offered flowers to mothers walking along Nea Paralia (New Waterfront).

"Xronia Polla to all mothers everywhere in the world, always strong, always by our side", the Mayor of Thessaloniki added.

History of Mother’s Day

The tradition of celebrating mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele.

However, the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” People would make offerings of honey-cakes, drinks, and flowers at dawn.

The latest and more moderate version of Mother’s Day, however, can be dated back to the Christian festival, ‘Mothering Sunday’ that was first held in the UK. The traditional festival was organised on the fourth Sunday of Lent and during this time the Virgin Mary, also known as the Mother of Christ, was celebrated.

Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with the American Mother’s Day in the 1930s and 1940s.

From the GCT Team, we wish all the mothers and grandmothers a Happy Mother’s Day!