Across countries and cultures, there’s one thing people around the world share: love and appreciation for their mothers. Many countries have special days set aside for honouring mom, which often includes celebrating with gifts—especially flowers—taking over household duties, and sharing meals and quality time together. While customs vary a bit from place to place, the most important tradition is simply showing her how much you care.

Australia
Chrysanthemums and carnations are popular Mother’s Day gifts in Australia. People also wear carnations in honour of their mothers, with a coloured carnation celebrating a mother who is still living, while a white carnation indicates a mother who is deceased.

China
While largely an unofficial holiday, people in China may give mothers lilies to celebrate Mother’s Day because, in ancient times, mothers planted them when children left home.

Indonesia
Mother’s Day in Indonesia commemorates the First Indonesian Women’s Congress, and moms are given a day off from chores along with gifts and surprise parties.

Japan
Red carnations are the most popular Mother’s Day gift in Japan. As in many countries around the world, it’s also a day where children take over household chores to give moms a rest.

Mexico
In Mexico, churches organise special Mother’s Day masses, and it’s customary to begin the celebrations with a rousing version of Las Mañanitas, a traditional song also sung on birthdays. Mothers are given tamales and atole, and children perform skits and songs as well as give gifts to mothers.

Vietnam
Although Mother’s Day has only recently begun being celebrated in Vietnam, the country has its own tradition of honouring parents—and particularly mothers—on Mua Vu Lan, a Buddhist holiday closely connected to ancestor worship.

United States
Mother’s Day is the biggest day for long-distance phone calls in the United States, as it’s customary to call your mom to tell her how much you love and appreciate her. Flowers of all sorts are common gifts, although carnations are traditional, and cards, chocolates and other tokens of affection may be given as well. .

Unites Kingdom
England was the first country in the world to set aside a special day to celebrate mothers, originally known as ‘Mothering Sunday’ and celebrated during Lent. It was started by the Church of England and some still celebrate by giving mums a traditional simnel cake, a light fruit cake layered with almond paste, along with more modern gifts of chocolate and flowers.

Thailand
Celebrated on the Queen’s birthday on the 12th August with fireworks and candle lighting, mothers in Thailand traditionally receive jasmine flowers on Mother’s Day as symbols of love from their children.