Human Flower Project

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Día de las Madres

In Mexico, it’s time to serenade Mother, bring her breakfast, and present a bouquet.

A devoted son arrives with flowers May 10
Mother’s Day in Mexico
Vintage post cards: via Human Flower Project

In the U.S. mothers are honored on the second Sunday in May, a less hurried day of the week and, generally, a mild time of the year. But in Mexico, Día de las Madres always falls on May 10. For once, the rest of the nation can work around Mother!

In Mexico, and parts of the U.S. too, this is a huge day for flower giving, blossoms for Mother and Grandmother both. It’s customary for the family to congregate at the matriarch’s house the evening of May 9th, so all can be there to serenade her with Las Mañanitas first thing on the 10th. We understand that Mother can also expect to be served a fine breakfast of tamales and atole, a drink of hot corn meal spiced up with cinnamon.

At a shop here in Austin last week we came upon a beautiful collection of old hand-colored Mothers Day cards from Mexico and hope you’ll enjoy a few of them. Each presents Mother and her family from a different angle. In one, a young man (the prodigal?) kneels at the chair of his elderly mother. In another, children scramble onto Grandmother’s lap. The perfect family poses together, toddlers holding a basket of blossoms, while the baby stands on a piano bench, a bouquet of roses on his white shoes.

On each black and white photo, where flowers are, someone has brushed on washes of yellow, rose and aqua, the colors of icing. The images are turned into tiny confections. And the verses are sugary with adoration.

“Con aroma de mil flores, vuelan a ti mis suspiros” With the fragrance of a thousand flowers, I sigh for you….

If you’ve forgotten the tune of Las Mañanitas (popular also for birthdays) here’s a rendition with mariachi accompaniment. And the words.

Las Mañanitas

Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

Translation:

This is the morning song that King David sang
Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
The birds are already singing and the moon has set

How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn.

Felicitaciones a todas las madres de Mexico!