What Is Mother's Day?
Mother's Day is a date dedicated to celebrating mothers. Countries around the world, including the US and UK, take part to show respect for everyone who is a mother, has experienced motherhood, or performs motherly actions.
The occasion is celebrated in May in the US and many other countries around the world, including Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. To mark the occasion, children usually spend time with their mothers and give gifts, like chocolates, flowers, or a card with a heartfelt message.
When Is Mother's Day?
In the US, Mother's Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May. This means the date changes every year, but it is usually held between May 7-14th, depending on where the second Sunday of the month falls in that year.
If the event falls within or after a leap year, the date may fall slightly outside of this window. Use the countdown to Mother's Day above to learn how many days until Mother's Day.
Why Is Mother's Day Celebrated?
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring all mothers. People celebrate it to express respect, gratitude, and love to anyone who is a mother, both biologically and otherwise. It is a widely recognized event that is designed to honor the contributions of mothers to their children, family members, friends, colleagues, and society as a whole.
The occasion is celebrated differently across the globe. Usually, people present gifts or cards to their mothers or people they know that are mothers. For example, a spouse may give a gift to the mother of their children.
Other ways to celebrate other than gift giving include buying flowers, cooking breakfast, completing chores, or making a sentimental handmade item, like a photo album, painted cup, or collage.
When Was Mother's Day First Celebrated?
The earliest modern form of Mother's Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1908. It was initiated by an activist named Anna Jarvis from West Virginia, who campaigned for a day to honor mothers. Jarvis was inspired by her own mother, who had passed away in 1905.
In 1914, the United States Congress and President Woodrow Wilson declared that the second Sunday in May would be officially recognized as Mother's Day. Although it isn't a holiday in the US, it is still widely celebrated each year.
Is Mother's Day Always on the Same Day?
No, Mother's Day is not always on the same day. The date of Mother's Day changes every year depending on which calendar year it is. In the US, the occasion is always celebrated on the second Sunday of May, which means it usually falls between May 7-14th, unless it is a leap year.
Are There Two Mother's Days?
In the US, there is only one Mother's Day held during May. However, Mother's Day is celebrated across the globe on different dates during the year. The Mother's Day Countdown shows how many more days until Mother's Day in the US.
In the UK, Mother's Day is celebrated after Easter on what's known as the fourth Sunday during lent. This usually means the UK Mother's Day is held during March or April.
Mother's Day is mostly celebrated during May, with 26 countries across the globe marking the occasion in May, including Australia, Canada, the US, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
Other countries around the world celebrate the occasion between February and December. For example, Thailand and Panama celebrate Mother's Day in December, while Costa Rica celebrates Mother's Day in August. No country is known to celebrate Mother's Day in January.
What Do Moms Really Want for Mother's Day?
Every mother is different and wants to celebrate motherhood differently. Generally, moms want to spend time with their family, children, and partner on Mother's Day.
To celebrate Mother's Day, most people choose to:
- Spend time together
- Give a card with a heartfelt message
- Write a letter
- Make a handmade gift
- Buy a gift, like jewelry
- Send chocolates
- Give flowers or a plant
In terms of gifts, most moms want just a card to show gratitude for their efforts, while others are happy with extra gifts, like flowers, plants, handmade gifts, or jewelry. Chocolate is also a popular gift for Mother's Day, namely luxury boxes of chocolate.
How Many Days Until Mother's Day?
There are days until Mother's Day.