When is Mother's Day celebrated around the world?

Time of India

11-05-2025

February 9th: Second Sunday of February
March 8th: International Women's Day
March 21st: First Day of Spring
March 30th: Fourth Sunday of Lent
May 10th: Día de las Madres
May 11th: Second Sunday of May
May 25th: Last Sunday of May
August 12th: Queen Sirikit's birthday
October 19th: Third Sunday of October
November 30th: Last Sunday of November
While a mother's life and role, her love and devotion towards her child, her being, should be celebrated every day, Mother's Day gives children all around the world a day that's just for the love they share with their mom. It allows them to show through words, gestures and actions how they feel about their mother and make her feel special and appreciated for all she does. Mostly, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, which in 2025 is on 11th May. But did you know that not all countries celebrate Mother's Day on the same day?Yes, there are many countries across the globe that celebrate Mother's Day on different days. Below is when Mother's Day is celebrated around the world.In Norway, Mother's Day or Morsdag is celebrated on the second Sunday of February since 1919, when Dorothea Schjoldager and Karen Platou established the celebration in Bergen.Many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia celebrate Mother's Day as a part of International Women's Day on March 8th, every year. On this day, these countries honour women and mothers both for their achievements and sacrifices in life to become who they are.In many Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, March 21st is celebrated as Mother's Day as it coincides with the Spring Equinox, thus symbolising renewal and life.In the UK and Ireland, Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Historically, on this day people used to visit their mothering church, which was the church where they had been baptised, but later it evolved into people visiting their own mother on this day.In Mexico, Mother's Day is celebrated on May 10th, no matter what day it is, annually. While there are several stories behind this, the most common is that on May 19, 1922, Rafael Alducin, the editor of the Mexico City newspaper El Excelsior, emphasised the celebration of Mother's Day in his column. He chose the day May 10, and ever since, it has been celebrated on the same day. However, in the country, Mother's Day is known as Día de las Madres.Mother's Day finds its origin through a daughter, Anna Jarvis, who celebrated it in 1908 in West Virginia to honour her late mother and the sacrifices that mothers make for their children. Inspired by her efforts, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day in 1914. Ever since, countries such as America and India have been celebrating the day accordingly. In 2025, the second Sunday of May is on 11th May.In France, Mother's Day or Fête des Mères is celebrated on the last Sunday of May, however, if the day coincides with a traditional holiday, Pentecost, it is celebrated on the first Sunday of June. In France, the celebration of Mother's Day is a law enacted by President Vincent Auriol on May 24, 1950.In Thailand, Mother's Day or Wan Mae is celebrated on August 12th, the birthday of Queen Sirikit, who is revered as the "Mother of the Land" and is seen as a mother to all Thai people as she ruled the country when the king was in a period of monkhood. On this day, children gift their mothers jasmine flowers to show their love.Argentina celebrates Mother's Day or Día de la Madre on the third Sunday of October. The tradition dates back to 1931, when Pope Pius XI established October 11 as the day of the Divine Maternity of Mary. Later, the government under the de facto presidency of José Félix Uriburu adopted the celebration and ruled that it should be celebrated on the Sunday closest to October 11th. Over time, the date was moved to the third Sunday of October.In Russia, initially, Mother's Day was celebrated with International Women's Day. However, in 1998, the idea of celebrating mothers on a specific and different day developed, and thus it began to be celebrated on the last Sunday in November.