Happy Mother’s Day [Archives:2006/932/Last Page]
Fatima Al-Ajel
Like many Arabs, Yemenis celebrate Mother's Day. Everyone has their own way of celebrating, but on that day, they think about what kind of present a mother deserves.
Gift shops are full of gifts at Mother's Day, as customers of all ages look for the best gift to buy for their mothers. Some buy flowers, while others buy a cake and throw a party for their mother.
So, how do Yemenis celebrate Mother's Day and how do Yemeni mothers feel on that day?
Latifa, a mother of 10 sons and daughters, expresses her feelings about Mother's Day, saying, “All my sons and daughters brought gifts to me. My eldest son bought a cake and came with his kids and celebrated with me. Even my youngest son, who is 15, collected money for a month and bought a gift for me.”
However, some mothers celebrate the day far from their sons. Amenah is a mother who lives in Taiz while all her sons are working in Sana`a. Her eldest son Nasri says, “I couldn't go to Taiz and celebrate with her, so I just called her on that day and wished her Happy Mother's Day. This was the only thing I could do for her and she excuses me. She always says, 'My happiness and real celebration will be when I see you and when you achieve your dreams in the future.'”
However, some mothers don't know about Mother's Day and don't celebrate it at all. When asking mother of six Fawzia about the day, she said, “I never heard about this day, so I have no idea about it.”
When asking some Yemenis about their opinion of Mother's Day, 27-year-old Ahmad replied, “I don't believe in such a thing. A day is not enough to express my love to my mother. When I want to reward my mother, I have to reward her all the days of the year. Mother's Day is all year long, not just one day.”
But Salma says, “It's a wonderful chance for sons and daughters to show their feelings and love toward their mothers. For me, I spend a nice time with my mother. I celebrate this day every year.
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