Have you ever heard about motherland, mothertongue,  mother country, mothercraft, mother earth, mother goddess, motherland, mother lode, mother sea, and mother river? 

At least one of them you ever heard.

So, why they call  it mothertongue instead of fathertongue? 

No, no.. Mother is just like an angel, she's too precious, we should appreciate her. I think that's their way to show their gratitude.

Talking about mother, by the way today is December 22.  What's so important about today? 

Today in Indonesia we're celebrating Mother's day. I found that in many countries most commonly in the months of March or May, such as Bolivia, Middle East courties (mostly), Nepal, France, Nicaragua, etc.

What is Mother's Day?

A day of the year on which mothers are particularly honoured by their children. (oxford dictionary)

Mother's Day History

Back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother's Day is the early Christian festival known as "Mothering Sunday". Once a major tradition in the UK and parts of Europe, this celebration fell on the 4th Sunday in Lent and was originally seen as a time when the faithful would return to their "mother church"-the main church in the vicinity of their home -for a special service. Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition shifted into a more secular holiday, and children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation. This custom eventually faded in popularity before merging with theAmerican Mother's Day in the 1930s and 1940s.

Mother's Day in Indonesia

Mother's Day in Indonesia plays a special role in Indonesian history, culture, and society. In fact, it's not just  for mothers but for the entire women community. It's observed as a national holiday in Indonesia and is celebrated anually on December 22. This day owes its origin to the first All Indonesian Women's Congress that was held on the same day in 1928. The Congress intended to improve women's rights in education and marriage.  However, the idea of making it an official celebration was carried out a year later, during 1938. In 1959, this day was officially declared as Mother's Day after it was signed by Indonesian first president, Mr. Soekarno under Presidential Decree No. 316.

Local name is Hari Ibu. Which Hari means day and Ibu means mother.

How are Indonesians celebrating Hari Ibu?

According to Women's congress, Hari Ibu was aimed to celebrate the spirit of Indonesian women and improve the condition of the nation. But, it's now celebrated for expressing love and gratitude to mothers apart from the traditional belief. On this day, it is a customary practice to send gifts, flowers, and greeting cards to mothers. Moreover, some organizations hold parties or competitions, like cooking competition, photography or flower decorating.