The Origins and History of Mother’s Day in the Arab World

posted on: Apr 29, 2026

Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

By Jake Harris / Arab America Contributing Writer

Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 21st throughout the Arab World. It was introduced by Egyptian journalist Mustafa Amin in the 1950s and quickly spread throughout the region. The day coincides with the beginning of spring. This is a time, particularly in Ancient Egypt where there were festivals and celebrations dedicated to the goddess Isis. In the Egyptian pantheon, Isis is the goddess of fertility, healing, and motherhood. Women were highly regarded in Ancient Egypt, particularly in comparison to many other contemporary civilizations. 

Mustafa Amin, and Origins in Egypt

Mustafa Amin was one of the most famous journalists throughout the Arab World. Advocating for the celebration of Mother’s Day was only one of his major impacts on the field. Amin was politically liberal and supported a western-style freedom of the press culture. He was jailed for criticism of King Farouk in 1939 and by the Nasser government in the 1950s. Nasser nationalized the press when he rose to power. A story of a mother who raised her son to become a doctor, only for him to marry and leave her isolated and forgotten is said to have given Mustafa Amin inspiration to advocate for a day of appreciation for mothers. While the idea of the holiday was proposed in the 1940s, it wasn’t until 1956 that it was officially recognized in Egypt. The holiday spread quickly across the rest of the Arab World. 

In 1965,  Amin was arrested and accused of spying on behalf of the Americans. This was due to a meeting with an American diplomat accused of being a CIA agent. In response to this development the Egyptian government changed the name of the holiday to “Family Day” in order to avoid the connection to Amin. It was changed back due to backlash from the public. Initially sentenced to life in prison, Amin was released by President Anwar Sadat under the reasoning of poor health.

Mother’s Day in the Arab World vs the United States

A key element of Mother’s Day in the Arab World that is absent from the American version of the holiday is the timing, and how that timing adds further themes to the holiday. The lining up of Mother’s Day with the spring solstice adds a further element to the holiday. An element of renewal, rebirth, and growth. In a way, connecting Mother’s Day to overarching themes of the Egyptian fertility goddess allowed the country to differentiate it from a “copy-paste” imitation of the holiday in the west. It allows Mother’s Day to have its own unique identity, tailored to the culture and history of Egypt.

Many of the customs of Mother’s Day in the Arab World are similar to customs in the United States. Common practices include gift giving, the giving of greeting cards, flowers, and cakes. Family gatherings are also custom. The holiday being on two different days allows some Arab Americans to have two distinct Mother’s Day celebrations. These can be for the mothers in their lives at home in the states, or relatives abroad.

Appreciation of Motherhood: A unifier across cultural lines

The spread of Mother’s Day throughout the world highlights the idea that despite the vast cultural differences between regions of the world, the appreciation for mothers, and women in general is a value that’s worth celebrating. It is because of this that even in nations that are often reluctant to adopt customs of western origins, Mother’s Day is accepted.

Over the previous few years in the Arab World, Mother’s Day has carried a particular weight of sorrow due to the unconscionable death toll of women and children in the Gaza Strip. United Nations Women published a report showing that women and children make up 70 percent of victims in Gaza. The impact that the destruction of medical infrastructure has had when it comes to delivering reproductive health care is also recognized. 

This Mother’s Day, the utmost appreciation is extended to all Mothers in the Arab American community. They continue to contribute greatly to American society as a whole, and to our individual communities.

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