TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesians celebrate the Mother’s Day on December 22 annually, which is fall on today this year. Mother`s Day in Indonesia is not just for mothers but also for all women since it was originally intended to celebrate the spirit of Indonesian women. Here are three facts about Mother’s Day in Indonesia.
1. Mother’s Day falls on different dates
Indonesia is the only country in the world that celebrates Mother’s Day on December 22, when most countries celebrate it on the second Sunday of May. According to Wikipedia, the date adopted by countries is usually based on the region’s majority religion and historical significance.
Read: Mother's Day Plays Special Role in Indonesian History
2. Mother’s Day in Indonesia established in 1953
Indonesia’s first President Soekarno was responsible for establishing Mother’s Day on December 22. It was officially set in 1953 by Presidential Decree No. 316.
Mother’s Day was also made to coincide with the commemoration of the first Women’s Congress on December 22, 1928, in Yogyakarta, that focused on the improvement of women’s rights in marriage and education.
3. Indonesian Mother’s Day had a different meaning under Soeharto’s Presidency
During the New Order under the regime of President Suharto, the Mother's Day commemoration was used by the government to issue propaganda to convince Indonesian women that they should stay at home and remain docile.
Currently, Mother’s Day in Indonesia focuses on expressing love and gratitude towards mothers. On this day, it is a customary practice to send gifts, flowers, and greeting cards to mothers and women.
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