The flower business is booming every May. In 2019, fresh-cut flowers accounted for 80% of purchases on Mother’s Day in the United States. Outdoor bedding and garden plants come in second place at 40%. 

Florist supplier Fifty Flowers ranked the top Mother’s Day flowers and their meanings. Roses, which remain everyone’s favorite, symbolize elegance and appreciation. Carnations, on the other hand, denote beauty, while peonies embody prosperity and good fortune.

Indeed, flowers have been a go-to gift option since the early days of Mother’s Day celebrations. But back in the day, children were more hands-on when giving gifts.

London’s Appleyard Flowers shared that traditional British practices involved baking a simnel cake, a light fruit cake with almond paste and marzipan balls. Children offered it to their mothers for what is called Mothering Sunday (a.k.a Refreshment Sunday), which happens on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

If you prefer a Mother’s Day gift that will last more than a week, you can go the practical route. Kristen McGrath, editor of the cashback website Retail Me Not, shared some suggestions that won’t break the bank. 

"Whether you're shopping for mom or shopping for yourself, you can save on things like photo books, home goods, and beauty products. There's a lot of things that are on sale for Mother's Day that you might want to snap up yourself."

But what do moms really want on this special day? According to survey responses, it’s not something you’ll find in a flower store or any gift shop: free time. 

Mothers live busy lives, and it goes without saying. But if we’re looking at specific numbers, a 2018 study revealed that working moms render around 98 hours weekly. That’s equivalent to two and a half full-time jobs.  

So, when asked what they want for Mother’s Day, 58% of survey respondents want to be able to “drop everything.” 42% simply want to enjoy a good book, while 11% prefer to do some form of mindfulness exercise.

With different world cultures come various practices, including the celebration of Mother’s Day. In Peru, people also honor moms, grandmothers, and sisters who have passed on, as many countries do on the Day of the Dead. And they share food and drinks while they’re at it.

Thailand, on the other hand, does it differently. For one, Thai people commemorate their mothers on August 12th, which is also the birthday of their former queen Sikirit. It is also a national holiday where children pay homage to their moms during school presentations.

Like Thailand, France does not celebrate Mother’s Day like the rest of the world. Instead, it takes place on the last Sunday of the month unless it falls on the same day as the Christian Holiday of Pentecost. In this case, Mother’s Day moves to the first Sunday of June. 

France’s gift-giving tradition for Mother’s Day began in 1920 when the French government gave medals to mothers of large families as a show of gratitude for those who helped rebuild the population. It has since evolved into flower-shaped cakes.

Like most countries worldwide, Ethiopia commemorates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May. However, their celebration lasts three days and is accompanied by a feast called “Antrosht.” 

Since Mother’s Day in Ethiopia also marks the end of the rainy season, people find immense joy in going home with their families once the weather clears. From there, they prepare large meals and share good memories together.

Italy prioritizes providing mothers with much-needed respite. “Festa della Mamma” occurs on the second Sunday of May, and children give roses and write poems for their mothers. 

However, there is a special emphasis on relieving moms from any of their duties that day. Instead, family members cook meals and ensure the house is in order. Some take it a step further and treat mom to a day of pampering.