Mother's Day or Día de las Madres is one of those can't-miss celebrations for Dominicans. We present you with some background information on Dominican Mother's Day customs and traditions followed by some original, creative gift ideas for mom with Dominican flavor.
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- Last reviewed . Published Apr 20, 2021When is Dominican Mother's Day?
While in most countries Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, Dominican Mother's Day is commemorated on the last Sunday of May. Having said that, the Dominican diaspora also celebrates it on their local date
And celebrate we do: In many Dominican families, Mother's Day is a bigger, more special occasion than birthdays. All family members take Mother’s Day celebrations very seriously.
How do Dominicans celebrate Mother's Day?
On Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic, the entire family will get together to mark the occasion by spending quality time with mom, and the festivities will certainly include gifts and treats for all mothers and grandmothers in the extended family, along with a home-cooked meal or a fun day out.
A celebration of motherhood
It is also a time when we pay tribute to all mother figures, not just our own mothers, so the custom is to congratulate all the mothers in your life - friends, co-workers, neighbors, other relatives, etc. for Mother's Day in the Dominican Republic.
Dominican Mother's Day song
Himno a las madres, or Mother's Hymn, is the official Dominican song for mother's day, and children sing it in the obligatory Mother's Day school play all over the country.
The song's author is Trina de Moya, President Horacio Vasquez's wife in the 1930s.
Remembering mom
For some of us, Mother's Day can be a bittersweet occasion. For those who have lost their mothers, Mother's Day is a date to make a visit to the cemetery and lay flowers in mom's memory, or to celebrate her memory in some other way.
Dominican Mother's Day gifts
We have fun and funny products to help you pick the perfect gift for the discerning Dominican mother.
We recently hired a talented Dominican illustrator to put some of my ideas into a series of graphics allusive to our culinary heritage. Your purchase will help support our work, and 10% of the proceeds of product sales (excluding the cookbook) will be donated to Save the Children, the charity we currently support (you can read more here, and how much we've raised so far).
Check out these gifts that mom will love:
Shopping totes
You know we're all about the environment, but mom should never go out with a basic, inglorious plastic bag. Buy a few of these totes, and she'll be carrying her groceries in a fun, Mother-Nature-friendly way.
Available in these designs:
Tees
Enough of boring tees, mom will surely appreciate the wittiness and oh-so-clever dig at her style of conveying recipes. Don't worry, she has a sense of humor.
There are lots of styles and sizes to choose from. Available in these designs:
Aprons
Cooking can be a messy affair, so good cooks need good aprons. Pick one of our fun designs to protect mom's clothes from spills and splatters, and bring a smile to her face.
Available in these designs:
Wall art
A funny conversation piece, and a little reminder of the things that make us what we are. Your kitchen will look better with these on your wall.
Available in these designs:
Cookbooks
The most popular recipes from five popular Hispanic cooking blogs (including ours!).
Vero, Erica, Clara, Alejandra, and Laylita share with you easy recipes and practical advice to dip into Dominican, Cuban, Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Colombian cooking.
(Affiliate link)
Gifts to get your teeth into
This list wouldn't be complete without any gifts of the edible variety. For a change from shop-bought chocolates, get creative and make your own homemade, edible gifts. From candy and sweet snacks to savory surprises, Mom will just love these DIY food gifts with special Dominican flavor.
Check out our Easy, inexpensive, homemade edible gift ideas, also available for purchase as an Ebook.
What do you think of our new products and designs? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Happy Dominican Mother's Day!
FAQs
In the Dominican Republic, Mother's Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. This day is also observed by Dominican immigrants in the United States and other countries.
Mami, mamita, mamuchi, mamacita, mamá, madre… these are just some of the endearing names for our mothers in the Dominican Republic.
Dominican Mother's Day is an occasion when all mothers are celebrated, not just your own. It is also a very important date on the calendar when all families get together.
Gifts range from flowers and chocolates to personal items like perfume, jewelry, fashion accessories, and personal care products. Home appliances and crafts are also heavily promoted as Mother's Day Gifts. You may also consider a day of pampering and relaxation like a spa day for Mom, or, check out some of our original gift ideas below.