How To Celebrate Mother’s Day in Mexico in Style

Just as in the United States, May is the month for moms in Mexico. But Mexican Mother’s Day is celebrated every year on the same day: May 10th. In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. 

What’s different about Mother’s Day in Mexico vs. USA?  Besides the celebration date, the name of the holiday also changes. In Spanish, Mother’s Day is called Día de las Madres. The way the day is celebrated is also a bit different, but we’ll get into that a bit later.

What’s the same about Mother’s Day in Mexico vs. USA?  In both countries, this is a time to give moms their due, to gather together with family, and to honor the huge role mothers play in everyone’s lives. 

Did you know that Mother’s Day in the United States was first officially celebrated in 1914 when it was declared a holiday by President Woodrow Wilson? That said, the so-called “Mother of Mother’s Day” was a woman, Anna Jarvis, who had begun commemorating her own mother just a few years earlier. 

The Mother’s Day tradition made it to Mexico in 1922 when journalist Rafael Alducin kicked off a nationwide movement to pay tribute to Mexican mothers. It caught on in a big way, and soon, May 10th was declared officially as Mexican Mother’s Day. 

While Mother’s Day in Mexico only began a little over a century ago, that doesn’t mean that Mexicans didn’t celebrate moms before that. Far from it. In pre-Columbian times, Mexican society was built around powerful matriarchs, and the pantheon of deities was filled with strong goddesses. In Mayan civilization, the goddess Ix Chel played an enormously important role as a symbol of fertility and motherhood. In order to consult the oracle of Ix Chel and gain her favor, brave souls would venture on a 36-mile pilgrimage in handmade canoes. This pilgrimage was called the Sacred Mayan Journey.

Today, the Sacred Mayan Journey experience is recreated every year in May as an interactive cultural festival in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. Think of it as one big celebration of motherhood! This is a great trip to take with the mom in your life to celebrate her and all other mothers in Mexico.

Another great place to experience the Sacred Mayan Journey is the Xcaret Eco-Park, located adjacent to the all-inclusive Occidental at Xcaret Destination hotel. Not only is the hotel ideal due to its proximity to the park, it also offers 24-hour food and beverage service, 11 restaurants, 11 bars, and a nightclub. It’s a great place to unwind, and a great Mexican Mother’s Day gift idea for any adventurous mom who loves a mix of history, culture, and relaxation.

Back in the day, the 10^th of the month was pay day in Mexico, meaning that everyone could afford a little extra to buy mom a nice gift or take her out for a fancy meal. 

In addition, the entire month of May in Mexico is also devoted to venerating the most famous mother in the eyes of the Catholic Church: the Virgin Mary. This is why the month of May and the 10^th of the month were perfect choices for celebrating Mexican Mother’s Day.

Día de las Madres is a time to shower mothers with gifts, of course: Flowers are particularly popular with Mexican mothers, and the more colorful, the better! But for many Mexican mothers, the most valuable gift is a little less tangible and come in the form of Mexican Mother’s Day songs. Often, children gather outside the house on the morning of Mother’s Day to serenade their mom with a song. “Las Mañanitas” is a favorite tune, with appropriate lyrics that translate to “Because today is your day, we’ve come to sing for you.” To awaken to the sound of your children singing to you (sometimes accompanied by a full mariachi band) is the ultimate Mother’s Day experience.

But if you really want to treat mom this Mexican Mother’s Day, spend a weekend or whole week spoiling her at a nice resort in Mexico in the Riviera Maya, Mexican Pacific, or Mexico City. Here are some great ideas to really spoil her this Mother’s Day:

If you’re traveling with little ones: The Barceló Maya Palace all-inclusive hotel in the Riviera Maya offers babysitting and childcare services at an extra fee to give mom a nice break. While the kids are off with the babysitter, treat mom to an indulgent and restorative treatment at the hotel’s U-Spa! Wellness is a journey at these state-of-the-art spas, offering massages, facials, and much more. 

If you’re traveling with your partner or parent:  The Royal Hideaway Playacar is an adults only, all-inclusive hotel that sits right on the water, featuring massage service, beauty center, pools, hot tubs, and more… Everything you need to relax in style.

If the mom you’re thinking of is more of a city girl: Take her to explore Mexico City, where you can stay right in the middle of all the action at Barceló México Reforma. This sleek hotel features a fitness center, indoor pool, and a rooftop terrace with stunning views.

Mother’s Day in Mexico is all about mom. But it’s also all about food. On this holiday, families will often gather around a feast featuring such signature Mexican dishes as mole, pozole, enchiladas, sopes, quesadillas, beef barbacoa, and more.

On the Yucatán Peninsula, a favorite Mother’s Day delicacy is cochinita pibil, a traditional slow-roasted pork. Of course, most families don’t want to make mom cook all day, so they take her out for a fine dining experience at a local restaurant. 

Plus, if she’s a craft beer fan, take her for an after-dinner beer at a local brewery. The Mexican craft beer scene is booming! And make sure you try a michelada, a signature Mexican beer drink made with beer, lime juice, assorted sauces (often tomato-based), and spices. 

Word to the wise: If you’re visiting Mexico on May 10th and want to eat out, make sure to make reservations well in advance!

Planning a trip to Mexico with the mom or moms in your family to celebrate Mother’s Day is one of the best ways to show your love for her. There may be no better place to celebrate than this fabulous country. It’s relaxing, exciting, and beautiful, all at once. Here are a few fun activities to treat mom during your upcoming Mexican Mother’s Day vacation. 

Go on a 5th avenue shopping spree in Playa del Carmen: Let mom choose her own gift! 5^th Avenue Playa del Carmen is a perfect place for a shopping spree, with all kinds of shops to explore, from upscale to handmade. Maybe she’ll even find some traditional Mexican clothing to add to her closet. And you can stay at the nearby Barceló Maya Riviera hotel, another adults only, all-inclusive hotel perfect for spoiling mom. 

Take her on a tequila-tasting tour: If mom is a tequila-lover, make sure you take her on a tequila tasting tour. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy or extravagant, just hand-pick a bar or restaurant that offers a good selection of tequilas, and order a few to sip and try.

Explore the Yucatan Peninsula’s cenotes: This is an eco-adventure like no other! The Yucatán Peninsula’s cenotes are natural swimming holes with crystal clear waters. A dip in a cenote is a Mother’s Day memory you and your family will never forget. Plus, you can reach numerous cenotes in just a short drive from the Barceló Maya Beach all-inclusive hotel. 

Feliz Día de las Madres! Happy Mother’s Day! No matter how you choose to celebrate Mom on Mexican Mother’s Day, you can’t go wrong. Just make sure she’s spoiled from morning to night! Now you may now be wondering, “When is Father’s Day in Mexico? Well, it’s celebrated on the third Sunday of every June, just like in the United States.