Mother’s Day in Oceania: A Celebration of Love and Legacy

From the islands of Samoa to the deserts of Australia, Mother's Day in Oceania is a powerful expression of love, tradition, and cultural identity. 

Celebrated on May 12 this year, communities across the Pacific honored mothers, grandmothers, and maternal figures through prayer services, cultural programs, and family gatherings.

In Australia and New Zealand, the day blended modern traditions with Indigenous values, with flowers, brunches, and heartfelt tributes to maternal figures in extended kinship systems. 

Māori communities marked the day with karakia (prayers) and waiata (songs) honoring biological and spiritual mothers.

Papua New Guinea celebrated Mother’s Day with vibrant church services, traditional gifts like bilums (woven bags), and community feasts. 

In the Highlands, mothers are revered as the heart of the family, responsible for nourishment, prayer, and strength.

In Fiji and Samoa, churches led the observance with songs, shawls, and sermons. Families celebrated with traditional feasts and tributes to elder women. 

In Samoa, the day is a national holiday known as Aso o Tina, observed with deep cultural and religious reverence.

French Polynesia, Tonga, and Melanesian nations like Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands offered elegant and spirited celebrations, where music, dance, and storytelling paid homage to maternal strength and legacy.

Across the region, Mother's Day also spotlighted ongoing challenges—maternal health, climate change, and social inequality—that mothers face daily. 

In response, many communities emphasized service over material gifts, reflecting deeper values of care, resilience, and faith.

As the Pacific continues to evolve, mothers remain cultural anchors, spiritual guides, and community leaders. 

Mother’s Day in Oceania is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a heartfelt celebration of the women who sustain life, love, and tradition.