Mother's Day is celebrated in Austria, but not as a public holiday. It falls on the second Sunday in May and is known as 'Muttertag'. The day is not a public holiday, but businesses may follow regular Sunday opening hours. Austrians celebrate by giving their mothers flowers, handmade gifts, and breakfast in bed. They also take their mothers out for the day, perhaps for a hike or to the theatre.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date | Second Sunday of May |
History | Introduced in 1924 by women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch |
Traditions | Gifts, flowers, breakfast in bed, cards, chocolate, hiking, theatre, cultural events |
Public Holiday | No |
What You'll Learn
- Mothers' Day in Austria is celebrated on the second Sunday of May
- It is not a public holiday, but businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours
- Mothers are thanked with cards, flowers, gifts, and breakfast in bed
- The day was introduced in Austria in 1924 by women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch
- Austrians may also celebrate by going hiking or for a walk in a park
Mothers' Day in Austria is celebrated on the second Sunday of May
Mother's Day in Austria is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. This is the case in many other countries, including Australia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, and Belgium. In 2025, Mother's Day in Austria will fall on Sunday, May 11.
The tradition of Mother's Day can be traced back to ancient Greece, where the mother of the gods, Rhea, was honoured with festivities. Early Christians celebrated the fourth Sunday of Lent as a mother's festival to honour Mary, the mother of Christ.
In Austria, Mother's Day was first introduced in 1924 by women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch. Hainisch was a well-educated woman who defended women's rights to proper education and campaigned for women to be allowed to attend higher education. She also became a leader in the suffrage movement in Austria and founded the Austrian Women's Party in 1912.
On Mother's Day in Austria, mothers can expect to receive presents and breakfast in bed. Flowers are also a common gift, as are handmade gifts from young children. Families often spend the day outdoors, going for hikes or walks in parks. Mother's Day is also a popular day for cultural activities, such as taking mothers to the theatre or other events.
While it is not a public holiday, Mother's Day in Austria is a special day for many people to show their appreciation for mothers and mother figures.
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It is not a public holiday, but businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours
Mother's Day in Austria is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. It is not a public holiday, but businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours. This means that while schools and many stores will be closed, restaurants and bars will be open, with special menus and discounts for families.
The day is an opportunity for Austrians to honour their mothers and mother figures and show their appreciation. Mothers can expect to receive presents and breakfast in bed. Flowers are almost a mandatory gift, and it is common for families to spend the day hiking or walking in a park.
The tradition of Mother's Day in Austria dates back to 1924 when it was introduced by women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch. She was a well-educated woman who defended women's rights to a proper education and campaigned for women to be allowed to attend higher education. Hainisch also became a leader in the suffrage movement in Austria and one of the founders of the Austrian Women's Party in 1912. Thanks to her efforts, girls' education was recognised by the city of Vienna in 1981.
The celebrations in Austria may seem familiar to many people around the world. In the week leading up to Mother's Day, companies will start advertising products, discounts, and offers. Children will prepare handmade presents for their mothers in kindergartens or learn songs to sing to them.
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Mothers are thanked with cards, flowers, gifts, and breakfast in bed
Mother's Day in Austria is a chance for people to show their appreciation for mothers and mother figures. Mothers are typically thanked with cards, flowers, gifts, and breakfast in bed.
Flowers are a very common gift for mothers on this day. In fact, flower shops are considered "essential shops" in Austria and are allowed to remain open during lockdowns. Other gifts include chocolate and handmade presents.
The day is not a public holiday, but it is a legal national holiday observed on the second Sunday in May. It is not uncommon for families to spend the day outdoors, hiking around towns or going for a walk in a park. Mothers may also be taken out for cultural events such as the theatre.
Mother's Day was introduced to Austria in 1924 by women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch. It is said that she followed the suggestion of US women's rights activist Anna Jarvis, who proclaimed a general day of remembrance for all mothers on the anniversary of her mother's death in 1908.
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The day was introduced in Austria in 1924 by women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch
Mother's Day in Austria, or Muttertag, falls on the second Sunday of May each year and is not a public holiday. It was first introduced in Austria in 1924 through the efforts of women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch.
Marianne Hainisch was born near Vienna in 1839 and was a well-educated woman who advocated for women's rights to a proper education. She wrote the article "On the Education of Women", calling for the City of Vienna to start school classes for girls. She also created classrooms for girls using private funds, which was recognised by the city of Vienna in 1981. She campaigned for women to be allowed to attend higher education and became a leader in the Austrian suffrage movement. In 1912, she became one of the founders of the Austrian Women's Party.
Hainisch's efforts to establish Mother's Day in Austria were influenced by two figures. Firstly, she followed the suggestion of US women's rights activist Anna Jarvis, who proclaimed a "general day of remembrance for all mothers" on the anniversary of her mother's death in 1908. Secondly, Hainisch supported a suggestion by Karl Barteis, a member of the Boy Scout Corps, of which she was honorary president. In 1926, more than 850 scouts marched along the Vienna Ringstrasse on the second Sunday in May, contributing to the spread of Mother's Day in the country.
Mother's Day in Austria is celebrated with flowers, handmade gifts, and breakfast in bed for mothers. Families also take the opportunity to spend the day outdoors, going for hikes or walks in parks, or engaging in cultural activities like visiting the theatre.
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Austrians may also celebrate by going hiking or for a walk in a park
Austrians may also celebrate Mother's Day by going hiking or for a walk in a park. This is due to the country's love of nature and culture, and it is a great opportunity to spend quality time with mothers and maternal figures. The alpine country is also famous for its cultural offerings, so Mother's Day is a perfect opportunity to take mothers out to the theatre or other cultural events.
Austria's celebration of Mother's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century. The holiday was introduced to the country in 1924, thanks to the efforts of women's rights activist Marianne Hainisch. Born near Vienna in 1839, Hainisch was a well-educated woman who advocated for women's rights to proper education. She successfully created classrooms for girls using private funds and later campaigned for women to be allowed to pursue higher education. She also played a leadership role in the Austrian suffrage movement and became one of the founders of the Austrian Women's Party in 1912. Her son, Michael Hainisch, became the first President of Austria after World War I.
In addition to her work in education and politics, Marianne Hainisch was instrumental in bringing Mother's Day to Austria. She was inspired by the suggestion of US women's rights activist Anna Jarvis, who had proclaimed a "general day of remembrance for all mothers" in 1908. With the support of the scout movement, Hainisch helped to spread the idea of Mother's Day throughout the country. By 1926, more than 850 scouts were marching in a Mother's Day parade along the Vienna Ringstrasse on the second Sunday in May.
Today, Austrians celebrate Mother's Day in various ways, including giving flowers, handmade gifts, and breakfast in bed to their mothers and maternal figures. It is a day to honour and recognise the sacrifices and accomplishments of mothers and to show appreciation for their loved ones. While it is not a public holiday, Mother's Day is a special occasion for many Austrians to celebrate and spend time with family.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Austrians celebrate Mother's Day.
Mother's Day in Austria is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.
Marianne Hainisch, founder and leader of the women's movement in Austria, is considered the initiator of Mother's Day in the country. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis, a US women's rights activist who proclaimed a "general day of remembrance for all mothers" in 1908.
Austrians celebrate Mother's Day by giving flowers and handmade gifts to mothers and maternal figures. Families may also prepare breakfast in bed for mothers and take them out for cultural activities like going to the theatre.