Mother’s Day: A Beautiful Celebration or Pagan Deception?

Every second Sunday of May, people around the world honor the women who gave them life. From flowers to greeting cards, brunches to heartfelt tributes, Mother’s Day is seen as a wholesome, touching celebration of maternal love. But what if this beloved holiday isn’t as pure as it seems?

What if it has roots in pagan goddess worship and secular invention rather than the Word of God? Let’s examine where Mother’s Day comes from, what the Bible says about such observances, and whether believers should be participating.

The Ancient Roots of Mother Worship

The idea of setting aside a special day to honor mothers is not new—it goes back thousands of years to ancient pagan cultures that worshiped mother goddesses. These celebrations were far from the flower-shop versions we see today.

1. Ancient Egypt – Isis Worship

In Egypt, the goddess Isis was revered as the "Mother of All Living." Temples were dedicated to her, and rituals included processions, chants, and offerings.

2. Ancient Rome – Cybele & Magna Mater

The Romans celebrated Hilaria, a festival dedicated to Cybele, also known as the “Great Mother” or Magna Mater. The celebration included games, sacrifices, and frenzied processions, honoring the “divine feminine.”

3. Ancient Greece – Rhea

In Greek mythology, Rhea was the mother of the gods. Greeks held ceremonies in her honor, often involving offerings and sacred rites that focused on fertility and creation.

These were not celebrations of human mothers, but rather worship of female deities associated with fertility, earth, and the divine feminine.

The Modern Revival of Mother’s Day

The modern Mother’s Day movement began in the United States in the early 1900s. It was spearheaded by Anna Jarvis, who wanted to honor her own mother and eventually lobbied to make it a national holiday.

By 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. However, even Anna Jarvis later regretted this move, as the holiday quickly became commercialized—overtaken by card companies, flower shops, and big business.

Though Mother’s Day today may seem like a harmless occasion, its secular formation and historical parallels to goddess worship raise serious questions for those striving to live Biblically.

Is Mother’s Day in the Bible?

The Bible commands us to honor our mothers and fathers—this is clear:

“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land...” – Exodus 20:12

However, there is no command or example in Scripture of setting apart a specific annual day to celebrate mothers. This type of celebration does not originate in the Law, the prophets, or the teachings of Messiah.

Instead, Scripture teaches us to show love and honor to our parents daily, not just when culture dictates it.

God’s Warning Against Pagan Practices

The Most High gives very specific instructions about mixing worship with pagan practices or adopting traditions not found in His Word.

• Deuteronomy 12:30–31 – “Take heed to thyself...that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.”

• Jeremiah 10:2 – “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen…”

• Mark 7:7-8 – “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

• Colossians 2:8 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men...”

Celebrating Mother’s Day may feel kind, but if it reflects man-made tradition or shares the spirit of pagan rituals, it becomes spiritually dangerous.

The Feminine Divine vs. Biblical Womanhood

Modern Mother’s Day—just like ancient goddess worship—tends to exalt motherhood to divine levels, putting human women in the place of reverence, sometimes even subtly above men or God’s structure for the family.

But Scripture teaches that womanhood is honored within the boundaries of God’s order:

“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” – Proverbs 31:30

This is a far cry from the divine feminine worship that shaped ancient traditions and still influences modern culture.

Conclusion: Should Believers Celebrate Mother’s Day?

If you truly love the Most High, then you must ask yourself:Does this celebration come from Him or from man?

Though honoring your mother is righteous and commanded, setting aside a day with pagan and secular roots is not. It may seem like a beautiful gesture, but the Bible warns against adopting the customs of the nations, even when they are disguised in sentimentality.

Instead of following the world’s calendar, we should honor our mothers through Biblical obedience, daily respect, and God’s appointed times—not man’s.