Today, May 10, Ukraine celebrates Mother’s Day — a holiday observed every year on the second Sunday of May. It is a day of gratitude to women whose warmth, love, and support accompany a person from their very first breath throughout their entire life.
A mother is the first word, the first embrace, the first feeling of safety. Even in adulthood, people seek their mother’s voice, advice, and support. It is mothers who teach us to love, to empathize, to fight, and never give up.
For Ukraine, Mother’s Day has long become not only a family holiday, but also a special symbol of strength. Today, Ukrainian mothers wait for their children to return from the front line, hide with them in shelters, save their families from war, volunteer, and work in hospitals, schools, and the military. Many mothers have lost what was most precious to them — their sons and daughters — yet continue to live for their memory and for the future of the country.
On this day, Ukrainians traditionally congratulate their mothers, give flowers, call their loved ones, and gather around the family table. But the most valuable thing for every mother is not gifts, but attention, gratitude, and the simple words: “Thank you, Mom.”
Mother’s Day was officially established in Ukraine in 1999. At the same time, the tradition of honoring mothers has deep historical roots and exists in many countries around the world.
Today is another opportunity to tell those who gave us life how deeply we love them.
