A Florist’s Guide to Gods, Symbols and Icons of Motherhood
A HK Florist’s Mother's Day exploration of maternal deities, symbols, and traditions from around the world
Throughout human history, motherhood has been revered, celebrated, and deified across every culture on Earth. From ancient fertility goddesses to modern maternal symbols, the universal experience of motherhood transcends geographical boundaries and connects us through shared reverence for the life-giving, nurturing force that mothers represent.
This Hong Kong flower shop guide explores the rich diversity of maternal deities, symbols, and cultural icons that have shaped how civilizations honor motherhood, offering insight into both the unique expressions and common threads that unite humanity's celebration of mothers.
Ancient Fertility and Mother Goddesses
Mesopotamian Traditions
Inanna/Ishtar (Sumerian/Babylonian) The goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, Inanna was one of the most widely venerated deities in ancient Mesopotamia. Often depicted with lions and the eight-pointed star, she represented both the nurturing and fierce protective aspects of motherhood. Her descent into the underworld and return symbolized the cycle of death and rebirth associated with fertility.
Tiamat (Babylonian) The primordial goddess of chaos and salt water, Tiamat was considered the mother of all gods in Babylonian mythology. She represents the original maternal force from which all creation emerged, embodying both the creative and destructive powers of the feminine divine.
Egyptian Deities
Isis Perhaps the most famous mother goddess of ancient Egypt, Isis was the divine mother who pieced together her husband Osiris after his death and conceived their son Horus. She became the archetype of the devoted wife and protective mother, often depicted nursing Horus. Her cult spread throughout the Mediterranean world, influencing later Christian imagery of the Madonna and Child.
Hathor The cow goddess of love, beauty, music, and motherhood, Hathor was often called "Mother of Mothers." She was believed to help women in childbirth and was depicted either as a cow or as a woman with cow's horns holding a sun disk. The sistrum (a musical rattle) was her sacred instrument.
Mut Whose name literally means "mother," Mut was the divine mother goddess of Thebes. Often depicted as a vulture, she was the mother of all things and protector of Egypt. She wore the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, symbolizing her role as mother of the pharaohs.
Greek and Roman Goddesses
Demeter/Ceres The goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility, Demeter's love for her daughter Persephone is one of mythology's most famous mother-child stories. Her grief when Persephone was abducted to the underworld caused the earth to become barren, explaining the seasons and highlighting the connection between maternal love and natural abundance.
Hera/Juno As queen of the gods and goddess of marriage and childbirth, Hera embodied the protective mother archetype. Despite her sometimes vengeful nature in myths, she was primarily invoked by women seeking safe childbirth and protection of their children.
Rhea The mother of the Olympian gods, Rhea saved Zeus from being devoured by his father Kronos. She represents the primordial mother who protects her children against all odds, embodying maternal cunning and determination.
Eastern Traditions
Hindu Goddesses
Devi/Mahadevi The Great Goddess in Hinduism manifests in many forms, all representing aspects of divine motherhood. She is both the gentle nurturer and the fierce protector, encompassing the full spectrum of maternal energy.
Parvati The gentle aspect of Devi, Parvati is the devoted wife of Shiva and mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She represents the ideal of loving, nurturing motherhood and domestic harmony.
Durga The warrior aspect of the Divine Mother, Durga is depicted riding a lion or tiger, wielding weapons to protect her children (devotees) from evil. She embodies the fierce protective instinct of mothers.
Lakshmi The goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity, Lakshmi is considered the universal mother who provides for all her children. She represents the nurturing aspect that ensures abundance and well-being.
Buddhist Traditions
Tara Known as the "Mother of Liberation," Tara is a beloved bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism. She appears in 21 different forms, with Green Tara and White Tara being most popular. She represents the compassionate mother who helps beings achieve enlightenment.
Guanyin/Avalokiteshvara The bodhisattva of compassion, often depicted as female in East Asian Buddhism, Guanyin is known as the "Goddess of Mercy." She is frequently called upon by women seeking children and is considered the protector of mothers and children.
Chinese Traditions
Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West) A powerful goddess who rules over life and death, Xi Wangmu is often depicted with the peaches of immortality. She represents the maternal principle that governs cosmic order and grants longevity.
Mazu Originally a mortal woman who became deified, Mazu is the sea goddess who protects sailors and fishermen. She is often called "Heavenly Mother" and represents the protective maternal spirit watching over those in danger.
Celtic and Norse Traditions
Celtic Goddesses
Brigid The triple goddess of poetry, smithcraft, and healing, Brigid was also associated with childbirth and protection of mothers and infants. She later became Saint Brigid in Christian tradition, showing the continuity of maternal reverence across religious transitions.
Danu The mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann (the Irish gods), Danu is considered the ancestral mother of the Celtic people. Rivers, particularly the Danube, were named after her, connecting maternal divinity with life-giving waters.
Modron The Welsh "Great Mother," Modron was the mother of the hero Mabon. She represents the sovereignty of the land and the maternal connection to place and territory.
Norse Goddesses
Frigg The wife of Odin and queen of Asgard, Frigg was the goddess of marriage, motherhood, and domestic arts. She was known for her protective love of her son Baldr and her attempts to prevent his death.
Freyja The goddess of love, fertility, and battle, Freyja was invoked by women in childbirth. She received half of the warriors who died in battle, making her a mother figure to the honored dead.
Indigenous and Shamanic Traditions
Native American
Changing Woman (Navajo) The most revered deity in Navajo tradition, Changing Woman represents the earth's fertility and the cyclical nature of life. She embodies the seasons and the ages of woman from maiden to crone.
Corn Mother (Pueblo Peoples) Various Pueblo tribes honor Corn Mother as the deity who gave maize to humanity. She represents sustenance, fertility, and the nurturing aspect of the earth that feeds all her children.
White Buffalo Calf Woman (Lakota) A sacred figure who brought the peace pipe to the Lakota people, she represents purity, sacrifice, and the sacred feminine that bridges the human and spirit worlds.
Australian Aboriginal
Rainbow Serpent In many Aboriginal traditions, the Rainbow Serpent is a creator deity associated with water, fertility, and the land. Though not exclusively maternal, she represents the life-giving force that shapes the landscape and provides for all creatures.
African Traditions
Yemoja (Yoruba) The orisha of rivers and seas, Yemoja is considered the mother of all orishas and by extension, all life. She represents the nurturing, life-giving properties of water and is especially revered by mothers seeking protection for their children.
Oshun (Yoruba) The orisha of rivers, fertility, and love, Oshun is particularly associated with pregnancy and childbirth. She is depicted as a beautiful woman who embodies the sweet, nurturing aspects of motherhood.
Symbols and Icons of Motherhood
Universal Symbols
The Tree of Life Found in many cultures, the Tree of Life represents the mother's role in connecting generations, providing sustenance, and offering shelter and protection. Its roots, trunk, and branches symbolize ancestry, present nurturing, and future generations.
Water Vessels and Springs Sacred wells, rivers, and water vessels are universal symbols of the life-giving properties associated with motherhood. The womb is often compared to sacred waters from which life emerges.
The Moon The lunar cycle's connection to women's menstrual cycles has made the moon a universal symbol of feminine divine power and motherhood across cultures. The three phases (waxing, full, waning) often represent maiden, mother, and crone.
Eggs Symbols of fertility, potential, and new life, eggs appear in maternal symbolism worldwide. The cosmic egg appears in creation myths from many cultures as the source from which the universe emerges.
Serpents and Dragons While sometimes seen as threatening, serpents often represent the primal life force, wisdom, and regeneration associated with the Great Mother. The ouroboros (snake eating its tail) symbolizes the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Cultural Specific Symbols
Lotus (Buddhism/Hinduism) The lotus represents purity, spiritual birth, and the potential for enlightenment that the divine mother nurtures in all beings.
Rose (Christianity/Islam) The rose, particularly the white rose, symbolizes the Virgin Mary's purity and maternal love in Christianity. In Islam, it represents divine beauty and the compassionate aspects of the divine.
Ankh (Egypt) The symbol of life itself, the ankh was often held by goddesses like Isis, representing their power to give and sustain life.
Sheela na Gig (Celtic) Carved female figures displaying exaggerated vulvas, these images celebrate female fertility and the life-giving power of women, often found on churches and castles.
Animals Associated with Motherhood
The Lioness
Across cultures, the lioness represents fierce maternal protection. From the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet to Hindu Durga riding her lion, this symbolism emphasizes the warrior aspect of motherhood.
The Bear
Mother bears are renowned for their protective nature, making them symbols of fierce maternal love in many Native American and northern European traditions.
The Cow
In Hindu tradition, the cow is sacred partly because of her maternal qualities—providing milk, gentle nature, and nurturing disposition. Hathor's cow symbolism emphasizes similar qualities.
The Wolf
The story of Romulus and Remus being nursed by a wolf mother has made wolves symbols of protective, adoptive motherhood that transcends species boundaries.
The Dove
Associated with peace, love, and the Holy Spirit in Christianity, doves also represent the gentle, nurturing aspects of motherhood and divine love.
The Swan
In Celtic and Norse traditions, swans represent grace, transformation, and maternal devotion. Swan maidens in mythology often sacrifice their freedom for love and motherhood.
Plants and Flowers of Motherhood
Flowers
Carnations The official flower of Mother's Day in many countries, with different colors carrying different meanings—pink for gratitude, white for remembrance of deceased mothers, red for living mothers.
Roses Universal symbols of love, with different colors representing various aspects of maternal love—white for purity, pink for gratitude, red for deep love.
Lilies Associated with rebirth and motherhood, particularly the Madonna lily, which represents the Virgin Mary's purity and maternal love.
Peonies In Chinese culture, peonies represent honor, wealth, and feminine beauty, often given to mothers as symbols of respect and love.
Trees
Oak The mighty oak represents strength, endurance, and protection—qualities associated with motherhood in many European traditions.
Willow The weeping willow's drooping branches are said to resemble a mother's protective embrace, making it a symbol of maternal shelter and comfort.
Apple The apple tree represents fertility, wisdom, and the nurturing sustenance that mothers provide. The fruit itself is often associated with temptation and knowledge.
Olive The olive branch symbolizes peace and abundance, representing the mother's role as peacemaker and provider for the family.
Modern Celebrations and Continuing Traditions
Contemporary Mother's Day
The modern Mother's Day celebration began in the early 20th century but draws on ancient traditions of honoring maternal figures. Different countries celebrate on various dates:
United States, Canada, Australia: Second Sunday in May
United Kingdom: Fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday)
Russia: Last Sunday in November
Thailand: August 12 (Queen Mother's Birthday)
Ethiopia: Multi-day celebration in mid-fall
Symbolic Evolution
Many ancient maternal symbols have evolved into modern contexts while maintaining their essential meanings:
Hospital and medical symbols often incorporate elements reminiscent of ancient healing goddesses
Environmental movements use Mother Earth imagery drawing from ancient earth goddess traditions
Modern feminist spirituality often reclaims ancient goddess symbols and meanings
Art and Literature
Contemporary artists and writers continue to draw inspiration from ancient maternal archetypes, creating works that speak to universal experiences of motherhood while honoring cultural specificity.
The reverence for motherhood transcends cultural, geographical, and temporal boundaries, manifesting in countless forms across human civilization. From the fierce warrior goddesses who protect their children to the gentle nurturers who provide sustenance and comfort, these diverse expressions of maternal divinity reflect both the universal experience of being mothered and the unique cultural contexts that shape our understanding of this fundamental relationship.
Whether through ancient ritual, religious practice, or modern celebration, humanity continues to honor the life-giving, protective, and nurturing qualities that mothers embody. These traditions remind us that motherhood is not just a biological function but a sacred role that connects us to the divine, to nature, and to the eternal cycle of life, death, and renewal.
As we celebrate mothers in our contemporary context, we carry forward thousands of years of human recognition that the maternal principle—whether embodied in human mothers, divine figures, or the earth itself—deserves our highest honor, respect, and gratitude.
