For some, it’s a card and breakfast in bed. For others, it’s a day-long celebration filled with numerous traditions.

Every year, during the month of May in most countries, Mother’s Day celebrations commence across the globe. Mother’s Day serves as a day of appreciation for the mothers of the world. Regardless of where it is celebrated, Mother’s Day is a global occasion which consists of a large variety of traditions.

In the United States, Mother’s Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May; this year’s fell on May 11. This year also marked the 100th anniversary of Mother’s Day celebrations. In 1908, Anna Jarvis, an American women often referred to as the “Mother of Mother’s Day”, began to petition Congress for a national holiday to honor mothers. Mother’s Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Soon, countries around the world followed suit.

Celebrations around the world include making breakfast in bed, purchasing gifts, writing cards, and going out for a special meal.

Every year, senior Adrienne Shih of the Taipei American School a sister school of Harker, gathers with her entire family to celebrate all the mothers of her family.

“We have a relatively large extended family [and] tend to have a large Mother’s Day lunch that usually consists of 10+ people. [This year] I bought my mom two books and ordered some roses and will be giving them to her on the morning of Mother’s Day. In the afternoon, we will have our annual Mother’s Day lunch. At night, we will probably go watch a movie,” she said. “I want my mom to feel relaxed.”

Freshman Chetana Kalidindi takes Mother’s Day as an opportunity to show her mother how much she cares for her.

“I make her breakfast in bed, and give her a card,” she said. “I want her to feel loved and I want her to know how much I appreciate everything she does for me.”

For Evan Lohn (10), Mother’s Day is filled with simple, yet meaningful, family traditions.

“My brother, my father and I go out to buy chocolates for my mom, because she loves them and it has become a family tradition,” he said. “Ideally, I want my mom to feel appreciated and at ease on Mother’s day.”

Junior Leeza Kuo uses Mother’s Day as an opportunity to showcase her artistic abilities, while honoring her mother.

“I make something for her. [Last year] I made a clay rose, paper flowers, once I made a lot of paper stars and put [them] in a box. Then, I put [in] an origami heart saying ‘I love you,’” she said. “I want to let my mom know that I love her even though I can be stubborn sometimes.”

Emma Josey, a senior at Saint Stephen’s College, Harker’s sister school in Gold Coast, Australia, had much to add about her family’s annual Mother’s Day celebration on the beach.

“Each year for Mother’s Day, myself and my two older brothers make my Mother breakfast in bed, before going to the beach for the morning. We then give her the presents we bought her on the beach. I want my Mum to feel special on Mother’s Day. I always hope she feels proud to be a Mother, as well as pleasantly surprised by the amazing presents,” she said.

Saint Stephen’s College senior Nicola Geldenhuis and his sister start Mother’s day off by cooking breakfast for their mother and spending the remainder of their day outside.

“For Mother’s Day each year we normally go out for lunch. This year we’re taking Mum out for lunch and then we’ll…go visit some friends and have a barbie [barbeque] for dinner. Mother’s Day for me is a chance to show Mum how much I love her…Mother’s Day is the perfect day to remind your Mum how much she means to you,” she said.

Mother’s Day is a day of appreciation, of love and respect; a day to honor your mother for everything she has done for you. Sons and daughters around the world celebrate Mother’s Day in with the same goal in mind: to honor their mothers.