Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is a day for many people to show their appreciation for their mothers and mother figures. While it is widely observed around the world, the date varies by country.

What Is Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is a special day to honor mothers and motherhood, including stepmothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, guardians, and other female relatives or family friends.

Observed in many countries around the world, it’s a day to express love and gratitude for the women who raise, nurture, and support their families.

Dates Vary by Country

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates in different countries. It is held on the second Sunday of May in many countries, such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. It is held exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday in the United Kingdom.

Find out when Mother’s Day is in your country

How Is Mother’s Day Celebrated?

Although traditions differ around the world, most Mother’s Day celebrations include some combination of:

• giving cards, flowers, or cakes
• attending family gatherings or visits
• joining family breakfasts, brunches, lunches, and dinners
• serving breakfast in bed
• having phone or video calls, particularly from children who live away from their mothers or mother figures
• sharing Mother’s Day poems and messages on social media
• giving Mother’s Day gifts such as chocolate, jewellery, clothing, hobby equipment, handmade items, or gift vouchers

Mother’s Day Traditions Around the World

• Mexico: A major celebration featuring Las Mañanitas songs, church services, and large family feasts with music and dancing.
• Ethiopia: In some communities (especially among the Gurage people), the Antrosht festival is a multi-day celebration held at the end of the rainy season, featuring traditional food, singing, and dancing to honor mothers.
• Thailand: Mother’s Day is celebrated on Queen Sirikit’s birthday (August 12), and is often marked by giving jasmine flowers, along with ceremonies, public celebrations, and family activities.

History of Mother’s Day

Although today’s Mother’s Day is a modern celebration, the idea of honoring maternal figures has deep historical roots. In ancient Greece, people held spring festivals to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods.

Similarly, the ancient Romans had festivals to celebrate Cybele, a mother goddess. While not directly connected to today’s holiday, these ancient traditions reflect the long-standing cultural reverence for motherhood.

In parts of the UK and Ireland, the fourth Sunday of Lent was traditionally a day to visit one’s “mother church” and, by extension, one’s own mother. This is known as Mothering Sunday. While it is still celebrated in churches, it has evolved into a broader family-oriented celebration.

The precursor to the US version of Mother’s Day began in the 1850s, when Ann Reeves Jarvis organized Mothers’ Day Work Clubs to improve hygiene and reduce infant mortality. Later in the 1870s, Julia Ward Howe, a peace activist, promoted a Mother’s Peace Day in response to the Civil War.

In the early 1900s, after her mother’s death, Anna Jarvis campaigned for an official day to honor all mothers. The first official service took place in 1908, and by 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation that made Mother’s Day a national observance to be held on the second Sunday in May.

Interestingly, Jarvis later objected to the holiday’s growing commercialization and spent her later years opposing the very movement she had started.

Symbols of Mother’s Day

While there’s no universal symbol for Mother’s Day around the world, flowers are a popular way to show love and appreciation for mothers. Red or pink carnations and roses are especially common choices, as they are often associated with love, admiration, gratitude, and maternal affection.

Note: This article provides a general overview of Mother’s Day and does not cover every detail of the customs, traditions, symbols, and practices in each country that celebrates the day.