Rudolph Napoles, pictured above, said Día de las Madres is about making sure his mom "knows that we love her." (Credit: José Martinez/OnCentral)
In "OnCentral on Foot," we approach people at random in the streets of South L.A. and ask them their thoughts on the world and community in which they live. This time, we asked them how they'd be celebrating "Mexican Mother's Day," which is celebrated on May 10.
The southside is nearly 57 percent Latino and many of those people are Mexican, so we found people who plan to celebrate las mamás en sus vidas on Thursday and asked what their plans were – and why they opt to celebrate on that day instead the U.S. holiday, which is observed on the second Sunday of each May. (This year, that's May 13.)
José Ramos, 18
How do you celebrate?
In the morning, we wake our mother up, tell her happy Mother's Day, and then we just give them flowers and give them a hug and spend the whole day with them. Just go out with them, take them out to eat, go to the park. Anything special with them.
Why do you celebrate it on May 10 instead of when the U.S. celebrates it?
My mom follows the Mexican tradition, so she celebrates it on the Mexican day.
Adriana A., 38
Translated from Spanish
How are you going to celebrate?
I have four kids. I'm working a little bit right now, trying to get keep food on the table. If we celebrate, it's with a little cake, some food and, more than anything, being together. Just being together and celebrating moms. [Laughs]
Will your mom be there?
My mom passed away, but we always pray for her and the whole family will say a prayer for her, as well as everyone who's sick, sad, on the street.
Why do you celebrate it on May 10 instead of when the U.S. celebrates it?
Because we're following Mexican tradition and everyone there celebrates it on May 10.
Rudolph Napoles, 17
How are you going to celebrate?
We take my mother out to eat and buy her food and flowers so she knows that we love her. That's what we're planning to do, take her out to a restaurant or something.
Why do you celebrate it on May 10 instead of when the U.S. celebrates it?
My parents come from Mexico, so we don't want to break with tradition.
Rubén Ortado, 67
Translated from Spanish
Ortado declined to have his photo taken.
How are you going to celebrate?
How do we celebrate? [Laughs] With food and such – you know how it is. Right?
Tell me how it is, Rubén.
You don't know? Food! Tamales, pozole – things like that. We have to celebrate the mothers. I have five kids and we'll all be together celebrating my wife. My mom has died but we'll of course celebrate her that day, too.
Alma Catalán, 28
How are you going to celebrate?
This year, we're actually having my grandparents from my mom's side of the family coming over from Mexico, so it's going to be a celebration with my grandparents, my mom and all my aunts – like a barbecue, but Mexican style. So with carne asada, rice and beans – that style. Most likely with mariachis, because my grandparents will be here. So we have to have them. [Laughs] And a lot of tequila.
Why do you celebrate it on May 10 instead of when the U.S. celebrates it?
You know, I was kind of confused growing up because in school, I would make the cards for my mom and give them to her on the U.S. holiday, and my mom would always complain that I forgot about her [when May 10 came and went], when I would just be waiting a couple of days for the American holiday. So I realized she would rather celebrate on May 10, so I started celebrating on the 10th from then on. So to me, Mother's Day is always May 10. That's the day I'll celebrate it on too, one day.
