Mother's Day is a celebration that honors the influence of the mother on the individual or family. It also celebrates the power of maternal bonds and the influence that mothers have had on society. Mother's day also shares a lot of similarities when compared to Grandparents Day, Siblings Day, and Father's Day. There are some countries that have celebrated Mother's Day for hundreds of years, and there are other countries that started celebrating Mother's Day relatively recently.
Mother's Day is celebrated on different days throughout different parts of the world. In the United States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, and so falls on a numerical date ranging from May 8 to May 14 each year. The most common times to celebrate Mother's Day or either during March or May.
Mother's Day did not start happening in the United States until 1907. At that time, Anne Jarvis held the very first Mother's Day service at Andrew's Methodist Episcopal church, located in Grafton, West Virginia. This is also a church that holds the international Mother's Day Shrine. She held a campaign to try to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday in the United States. She started running this campaign in 1905, which was when her mother died. Her mother was a peace activist. She spent her life taking care of wounded soldiers, particularly during the Civil War. She also took care of soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
In 1908, the United States Congress had a proposal to make Mother's Day an official holiday. By 1911, just about every state in the country would recognize Mother's Day. The United States continues to recognize Mother's Day to this day.
In a lot of countries, Mother's Day is celebrated as a part of International Women’s Day. International Women's Day is on March 8th, and it celebrates the contribution that all women have made to society, not just mothers. Some of the countries that celebrate Mother's Day on this date include Albania, Bulgaria, Belarus, Burkina Faso, and Moldova.
There are some countries that celebrate Mother's Day during Lent. These countries include Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.
There are a lot of countries that celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Some of these countries include Australia, Austria, the Cayman Islands, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Greenland, and Fiji.
People celebrate Mother's Day in different ways. One of the beauties of Mother's Day is that people can celebrate it in accordance with whatever they feel is best for their family. For example, some people like to give their mother the day off from doing any chores around the house. Everyone else in the family will cook and clean. There are some families who like to take their mothers out for a special dinner somewhere. Sometimes, they let mom pick the restaurant. Ultimately, the goal of Mother's Day is to let Mom know just how much she is loved and appreciated by the members of her family for all that she does.
Country | Mother's Day | Dates |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 14 June | 14 June 2022 | 14 June 2023 | 14 June 2024 |
Albania | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Algeria | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Angola | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Anguilla | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Antigua and Barbuda | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Argentina | Third Sunday of October | 16 October 2022 | 15 October 2023 | 20 October 2024 |
Armenia | 07 April (Annunciation day) | 07 April 2022 | 07 April 2023 | 07 April 2024 |
Aruba | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Australia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Austria | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Azerbaijan | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Bahamas | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Bahrain | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Bangladesh | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Barbados | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Belarus | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Belgium | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Belize | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Benin | 14 May | 14 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 14 May 2024 |
Bermuda | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Bhutan | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Bolivia | 27 May | 27 May 2022 | 27 May 2023 | 27 May 2024 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Botswana | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Brazil | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Brunei | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Bulgaria | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Burkina Faso | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Burundi | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Cambodia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Cameroon | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Canada | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Cape Verde | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Cayman Islands | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Central African Republic | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Chad | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Chile | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
China | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Colombia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Comoros | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Costa Rica | 15 August (Assumption of Mary) | 15 August 2022 | 15 August 2023 | 15 August 2024 |
Croatia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Cuba | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Cyprus | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Czech Republic | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Denmark | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Djibouti | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Dominica | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Dominican Republic | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
DR Congo | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Ecuador | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Egypt | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
El Salvador | 10 May | 10 May 2022 | 10 May 2023 | 10 May 2024 |
Equatorial Guinea | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Estonia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Ethiopia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Faroe Islands | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Fiji | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Finland | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
France | Last Sunday of May, or first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost | 29 May 2022 | 04 June 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Gabon | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Gambia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Georgia | 03 March | 03 March 2022 | 03 March 2023 | 03 March 2024 |
Germany | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Ghana | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Greece | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Greenland | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Grenada | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Guernsey | Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday) | 27 March 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 10 March 2024 |
Guyana | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Haiti | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Honduras | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Hong Kong | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Hungary | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Iceland | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
India | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Indonesia | 22 December | 22 December 2022 | 22 December 2023 | 22 December 2024 |
Iran | 20 Jumada al-Thani | 22 January 2022 | 13 January 2023 | 2 January 2024 | 22 December 2024 |
Iraq | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Ireland | Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday) | 27 March 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 10 March 2024 |
Isle of Man | Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday) | 27 March 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 10 March 2024 |
Israel | 30 Shevat | Between 30 January and 01 March | 01 February 2022 | 21 February 2023 | 09 February 2024 |
Italy | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Ivory Coast | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Jamaica | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Japan | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Jersey | Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday) | 27 March 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 10 March 2024 |
Jordan | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Kazakhstan | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Kenya | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Kuwait | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Kyrgyzstan | 19 May | 19 May 2022 | 19 May 2023 | 19 May 2024 |
Laos | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Latvia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Lebanon | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Liberia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Libya | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Liechtenstein | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Lithuania | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Luxembourg | Second Sunday of June | 12 June 2022 | 11 June 2023 | 09 June 2024 |
Macau | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Madagascar | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Malawi | 15 October, or following work day | 17 October 2022 | 16 October 2023 | 15 October 2024 |
Malaysia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Mali | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Malta | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Mauritania | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Mauritius | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Mexico | 10 May | 10 May 2022 | 10 May 2023 | 10 May 2024 |
Moldova | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Mongolia | 01 June | 01 June 2022 | 01 June 2023 | 01 June 2024 |
Montenegro | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Morocco | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Mozambique | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Myanmar | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Namibia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Nepal | Vaisakha, Amavasya (Mata Tirtha Aunsi) | Between 19 April and 19 May |
Netherlands | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
New Zealand | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Nicaragua | 30 May | 30 May 2022 | 30 May 2023 | 30 May 2024 |
Niger | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Nigeria | Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday) | 27 March 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 10 March 2024 |
North Korea | 16 November | 16 Nov. 2022 | 16 Nov. 2023 | 16 Nov. 2024 |
North Macedonia | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Norway | Second Sunday of February | 13 February 2022 | 12 February 2023 | 11 February 2024 |
Oman | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Pakistan | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Palestine | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Panama | 08 December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) | 08 December 2022 | 08 December 2023 | 08 December 2024 | |
Papua New Guinea | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Paraguay | 15 May | 15 May 2022 | 15 May 2023 | 15 May 2024 |
Peru | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Philippines | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Poland | 26 May | 26 May 2022 | 26 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Portugal | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Qatar | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Republic of the Congo | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Romania | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Russia | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Saint Lucia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Samoa | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Saudi Arabia | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Senegal | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Serbia | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Singapore | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Sint Maarten | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Slovakia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Slovenia | 25 March | 25 March 2022 | 25 March 2023 | 25 March 2024 |
Somalia | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
South Africa | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
South Korea | 08 May | 08 May 2022 | 08 May 2023 | 08 May 2024 |
South Sudan | First Monday of July | 04 July 2022 | 03 July 2023 | 01 July 2024 |
Spain | First Sunday of May | 01 May 2022 | 07 May 2023 | 05 May 2024 |
Sri Lanka | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Sudan | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Suriname | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Sweden | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Switzerland | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Syria | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Taiwan | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Tajikistan | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Tanzania | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Thailand | 12 August | 12 August 2022 | 12 August 2023 | 12 August 2024 |
Tonga | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Trinidad and Tobago | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Tunisia | Last Sunday of May | 29 May 2022 | 28 May 2023 | 26 May 2024 |
Turkey | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Uganda | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Ukraine | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
United Arab Emirates | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
United Kingdom | Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday) | 27 March 2022 | 19 March 2023 | 10 March 2024 |
United States | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Uruguay | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Uzbekistan | 08 March (with International Women's Day) | 08 March 2022 | 08 March 2023 | 08 March 2024 |
Venezuela | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Vietnam | 15th day of seventh month | Between 06 August and 06 September | 12 August 2022 | 30 August 2023 | 18 August 2024 |
Yemen | 21 March (Spring equinox) | 21 March 2022 | 21 March 2023 | 21 March 2024 |
Zambia | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Zimbabwe | Second Sunday of May | 08 May 2022 | 14 May 2023 | 12 May 2024 |
Different parts of the world celebrate Mother's Day on different days. The US, for example, celebrates on the second Sunday in May but other countries celebrate on International Women's Day in March.