The essentials at a glance
- On May 14, we will celebrate Mother’s Day in Switzerland once again.
- Would you like to surprise your mum with something more original for a change instead of the obligatory bouquet of flowers?
- Then it is high time to give some thought to this gift.
- Read a few tips on Mother’s Day gift ideas on this page.
Just to be clear: A bouquet of flowers is also a lovely gesture to honour your mother on Mother’s Day. After all, it is precisely the gesture and the thought that count. However, there is also nothing wrong with giving a different gift for a change. Here, we would like to offer you a few ideas.
Where does Mother’s Day come from?
Mother’s Day has been celebrated in Europe for around 100 years. About ten years after the holiday was established in the USA, this tradition crossed the Atlantic and reached us. Originally, the day was a day of remembrance for deceased mothers, but the Americans soon turned it into Mother’s Day, honouring all mothers—including those who were still alive.
Switzerland was one of the pioneers of European Mother’s Day, together with Sweden, Norway and Great Britain. We owe this primarily to the Salvation Army, which campaigned for the establishment of a holiday for mothers. In Germany, meanwhile, one of the driving forces—alongside the «Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Volksgesundung»—was in particular the «Verband Deutscher Blumengeschäftsinhaber».
Mother’s Day—who gives a gift to whom?
There are no clear rules for this. Of course, it would be lovely if children above a certain age painted a picture for Mum or made something nice—but most girls and boys do that all the time anyway. Nevertheless, such a gift is still a wonderful gesture for Mother’s Day. Grandmothers and mothers-in-law are naturally also happy to receive a small gift.
And what about men? They can and may also come up with something. Giving gifts is a pleasure, after all, and Mother’s Day comes only once a year. There are no limits to your imagination when giving gifts; flowers are always great, of course, but you are also welcome to think «out of the box», as people say nowadays.
Original Mother’s Day gifts
You can probably never go wrong with a wonderfully fragrant perfume, for example—perhaps something with a lovely spring scent? A gift basket filled with a few delicacies is also a great choice. A photo album that brings together the most beautiful moments the family experienced over the past year is another excellent idea. Stylish home accessories are original, as are a set of scented candles, bath products, a beautiful handbag, a beach towel or a stylish box of culinary herbs and spices. That is not to say that only Mum is allowed to use them, however—a wonderful home-cooked meal prepared by Dad and the children together is also sure to make a great gift.
As you can see, anything goes, and adding a bouquet of flowers is always welcome, too. A lovely breakfast at Mum’s favourite café or a trip to the cinema is just as wonderful as a personalised cushion or a pendant containing a family photo or a portrait of the children.
