Mother’s Day Countdown
Mother’s Day 2024: May 12 (Sunday)
- Mother’s Day 2025: May 11 (Sunday)
- Mother’s Day 2026: May 10 (Sunday)
- Mother’s Day 2027: May 09 (Sunday)
- Mother’s Day 2028: May 14 (Sunday)
What is Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.
While it began as a call for peace and a celebration of the work of caregiving, over time, Mother’s Day has become largely commercialized, with many people buying cards, gifts, flowers, and other tokens of appreciation for their mothers as a way to express their love and gratitude. Despite this commercial aspect, the day remains an important time for recognizing the hard work, dedication, and love of mothers and mother figures worldwide. Different countries and cultures have their own traditions and dates for celebrating Mother’s Day, reflecting the diverse ways in which motherhood is honored around the globe.
Mother’s Day Background
The background of Mother’s Day is rich with history, evolving from ancient traditions to the modern holiday we celebrate today. Its origins can be traced back to various festivals and customs across the world, honoring motherhood and maternal figures in society.
Ancient Celebrations
- Ancient Greeks celebrated a spring festival dedicated to Rhea, the mother of the gods, involving offerings and festivities in her honor.
- Romans had a similar celebration called Hilaria, dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess, marked by games, parades, and masquerades.
Early Christian Festival
- Mothering Sunday in the UK was originally a day for Christians to visit their “mother church” or the main church of their area during Lent. Over time, it shifted towards a more secular holiday, where children would present their mothers with flowers and other tokens of appreciation.
Modern Mother’s Day
Ann Reeves Jarvis in the United States is often mentioned as a precursor to the modern Mother’s Day. Before the American Civil War, she organized “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to improve health and cleanliness in the area to reduce infant mortality.
Julia Ward Howe, an abolitionist and author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” proposed a Mother’s Peace Day in 1872, advocating for a day dedicated to peace and motherhood, inspired by the horrors of the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War.
Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, is credited with founding the modern version of Mother’s Day in the early 20th century. Distressed by her mother’s death in 1905, Jarvis sought to honor her mother’s wish for a day to celebrate all mothers. She campaigned for the establishment of a national Mother’s Day, leading to President Woodrow Wilson officially declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914.
Mother’s Day Around the World
Mother’s Day is celebrated on various dates around the world, often reflecting cultural, historical, or religious significance. Here’s a list of Mother’s Day dates in different countries, highlighting the diversity in celebration times:
- United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan, Philippines, South Africa: Second Sunday in May. For 2024, this will be May 12th. For 2025 this will be May 11.
- United Kingdom (Mothering Sunday): Fourth Sunday in 2025, this falls on March 30th.
- Norway: Second Sunday on February 9, 2025.
- Georgia: March 3rd 2025.
- Armenia: Monday April 7, 2025.
- Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Syria, United Arab Emirates: March 21st, marking the start of spring.
- Ireland: Same as the UK, Fourth Sunday in 2025.
- Spain, Portugal: First Sunday of May. For 2024 its May 5, for 2025 its May 4.
- France: Last Sunday in May, unless Pentecost occurs on this day, then it’s the first Sunday in June. In 2024, it will be May 26th and in 2025 it will be May 25th.
- Sweden: Last Sunday in May. For 2024, May 26th and for 2025 it’s May 25th.
- Poland: May 26th of every year, same date.
- Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador: May 10th of every year.
- Russia: Last Sunday in November. For 2024, this will be November 24th and for 2025, this will be November 30th.
- Thailand: August 12th every year, celebrating the birthday of Queen Sirikit.
- Belarus: October 14th every year.
- Indonesia: December 22nd.
These dates can vary within some countries based on regional traditions or changes in government policies, but they broadly represent when Mother’s Day is observed around the world.
Is Mother’s Day International?
Yes, Mother’s Day is celebrated in various countries around the world, although the dates and customs associated with it can vary. While the origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to the United States, the idea of honoring mothers and motherhood has been embraced globally.
Different countries have their own traditions and customs for celebrating Mother’s Day. Some countries observe it on the same date as the United States (the second Sunday in May), while others have chosen different dates.
Mother’s Day is indeed an international celebration, albeit with variations in timing and customs depending on the country.
Is Mother’s Day a Federal Holiday?
In the United States, Mother’s Day is not a federal holiday. Federal holidays are designated by the government and typically involve closures of federal offices, banks, and post offices, as well as time off for federal employees.
Mother’s Day, however, is a nationally recognized observance rather than a federal holiday. While it is widely celebrated and has significant cultural importance, it does not entail the same official recognition and time off work as federal holidays like Thanksgiving or Independence Day.