Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father's Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents' Day.
Countries around the world have a multi-century history of a day to celebrate mothers.
In the United States, the modern version of the holiday began in the early 20th century at the initiative of Anna Jarvis. She organized the first Mother's Day service of worship and celebration at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, which serves as the International Mother's Day Shrine today. It is not directly related to the many traditional celebrations of mothers and motherhood that have existed throughout the world over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to Cybele, the mother deity Rhea, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the other Christian ecclesiastical Mothering Sunday celebration (associated with the image of Mother Church). However, in some countries, Mother's Day is still synonymous with these older traditions.
The American version of Mother's Day has been criticized for having become too commercialized. Jarvis herself, who began the celebration as a liturgical observance, regretted this commercialism and expressed that this was never her intention. In response, Constance Adelaide Smith successfully advocated for Mothering Sunday as a commemoration of a broader definition of motherhood in many other parts of the English-speaking world.
Infobox
Observed by
40 countries
Type
Worldwide
Significance
Honors mothers and motherhood
Date
Varies per country
Frequency
Annual
Related to
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Tables
· Dates around the world
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
Dates in various countries
Gregorian calendar
Occurrence
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Occurrence
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Dates
Dates in various countries
Country
Second Sunday of February
Second Sunday of February
Dates in various countries
Second Sunday of February
Dates in various countries
11 February 2024
9 February 2025
8 February 2026
Dates in various countries
Norway
3 March
3 March
Dates in various countries
3 March
Dates in various countries
Georgia
8 March
(with International Women's Day)
8 March
(with International Women's Day)
Dates in various countries
8 March
(with International Women's Day)
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mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Albania Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Burundi Burkina Faso Kazakhstan Kosovo Laos Moldova Montenegro North Macedonia Russia Serbia Tajikistan Uzbekistan Vietnam
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday)
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday)
Dates in various countries
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday)
Dates in various countries
10 March 2024
30 March 2025
15 March 2026
Dates in various countries
Guernsey
Ireland
Isle of Man
Jersey
Nigeria
United Kingdom
21 March
(Spring equinox)
21 March
(Spring equinox)
Dates in various countries
21 March
(Spring equinox)
Dates in various countries
Bahrain
Comoros
Djibouti
Egypt
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Libya
Lebanon
Mauritania
Oman
Palestine
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
25 March
25 March
Dates in various countries
25 March
Dates in various countries
Slovenia
7 April (Annunciation day)
7 April (Annunciation day)
Dates in various countries
7 April (Annunciation day)
Dates in various countries
Armenia (Motherhood and Beauty Day)
First Sunday of May
First Sunday of May
Dates in various countries
First Sunday of May
Dates in various countries
5 May 2024
4 May 2025
3 May 2026
Dates in various countries
Angola
Cape Verde
Hungary
Andorra
Lithuania
Mozambique
Romania
Portugal
São Tomé and Príncipe
Spain
8 May
8 May
Dates in various countries
8 May
Dates in various countries
South Korea (Parents' Day)
10 May
10 May
Dates in various countries
10 May
Dates in various countries
El Salvador
Guatemala (working mothers only)
Mexico
Second Sunday of May
Second Sunday of May
Dates in various countries
Second Sunday of May
Dates in various countries
12 May 2024
11 May 2025
10 May 2026
Dates in various countries
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Cambodia
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Congo, Dem. Rep.
Congo, Rep.
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Ecuador
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
Gabon
Gambia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kenya
Latvia
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Macau
Malaysia
Malta
Myanmar
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United States
Uruguay
Vietnam
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
14 May
14 May
Dates in various countries
14 May
Dates in various countries
Benin
15 May
15 May
Dates in various countries
15 May
Dates in various countries
Paraguay (same day as Día de la Patria)
19 May
19 May
Dates in various countries
19 May
Dates in various countries
Kyrgyzstan (Russian: День матери, Kyrgyz: Энэ күнү)
26 May
26 May
Dates in various countries
26 May
Dates in various countries
Poland (Polish: Dzień Matki)
27 May
27 May
Dates in various countries
27 May
Dates in various countries
Bolivia
Last Sunday of May
Last Sunday of May
Dates in various countries
Last Sunday of May
Dates in various countries
26 May 2024
25 May 2025
31 May 2026
Dates in various countries
Algeria
Cameroon
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Madagascar
Mali
Mauritius
Morocco
Niger
Senegal
Sweden
Tunisia
Last Sunday of May, or first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost
Last Sunday of May, or first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost
Dates in various countries
Last Sunday of May, or first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost
Dates in various countries
26 May 2024
25 May 2025
31 May 2026
Dates in various countries
France
French Antilles
30 May
30 May
Dates in various countries
30 May
Dates in various countries
Nicaragua
1 June
1 June
Dates in various countries
1 June
Dates in various countries
Mongolia (together with Children's Day)
Second Sunday of June
Second Sunday of June
Dates in various countries
Second Sunday of June
Dates in various countries
9 June 2024
8 June 2025
14 June 2026
Dates in various countries
Luxembourg
14 June
14 June
Dates in various countries
14 June
Dates in various countries
Afghanistan
First Monday of July
First Monday of July
Dates in various countries
First Monday of July
Dates in various countries
1 July 2024
7 July 2025
6 July 2026
Dates in various countries
South Sudan
12 August
12 August
Dates in various countries
12 August
Dates in various countries
Thailand (birthday of Queen Sirikit)
15 August (Assumption of Mary)
15 August (Assumption of Mary)
Dates in various countries
15 August (Assumption of Mary)
Dates in various countries
Antwerp (Belgium)
Costa Rica
Third Sunday of September
Third Sunday of September
Dates in various countries
Third Sunday of September
Dates in various countries
15 September 2024
21 September 2025
20 September 2026
Dates in various countries
Kazakhstan
14 October
14 October
Dates in various countries
14 October
Dates in various countries
Belarus (since 1996)
15 October, or following work day
15 October, or following work day
Dates in various countries
15 October, or following work day
Dates in various countries
15 October 2024
15 October 2025
15 October 2026
Dates in various countries
Malawi
20 October
20 October
Dates in various countries
20 October
Dates in various countries
Vietnam (Vietnamese Women's Day)
Third Sunday of October
Third Sunday of October
Dates in various countries
Third Sunday of October
Dates in various countries
20 October 2024
19 October 2025
18 October 2026
Dates in various countries
Argentina (Día de la Madre)
3 November
3 November
Dates in various countries
3 November
Dates in various countries
Timor Leste
16 November
16 November
Dates in various countries
16 November
Dates in various countries
North Korea
Last Sunday of November
Last Sunday of November
Dates in various countries
Last Sunday of November
Dates in various countries
24 November 2024
30 November 2025
29 November 2026
Dates in various countries
Russia
8 December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
8 December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
Dates in various countries
8 December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
Dates in various countries
Panama
22 December
22 December
Dates in various countries
22 December
Dates in various countries
Indonesia(Hari Ibu)
Hebrew calendar
Hebrew calendar
Dates in various countries
Hebrew calendar
Occurrence
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Dates in various countries
Country
30 Shevat
30 Shevat
Dates in various countries
30 Shevat
Dates in various countries
Between 30 January and 1 March
9 February 202428 February 202517 February 2026
Dates in various countries
Israel (Family Day)
Hindu calendar
Hindu calendar
Dates in various countries
Hindu calendar
Occurrence
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Dates in various countries
Country
Vaisakha Amavasya (Mata Tirtha Aunsi)
Vaisakha Amavasya (Mata Tirtha Aunsi)
Dates in various countries
Vaisakha Amavasya (Mata Tirtha Aunsi)
Dates in various countries
Between 19 April and 19 May
Dates in various countries
Nepal
Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
Dates in various countries
Islamic calendar
Occurrence
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Dates in various countries
Country
20 Jumada al-Thani
20 Jumada al-Thani
Dates in various countries
20 Jumada al-Thani
Dates in various countries
2 January 202422 December 202411 December 202530 November 2026
Dates in various countries
Iran
Vietnamese calendar
Vietnamese calendar
Dates in various countries
Vietnamese calendar
Occurrence
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Occurrence
Dates in various countries
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Dates in various countries
Country
15th day of seventh month
15th day of seventh month
Dates in various countries
15th day of seventh month
Dates in various countries
Between 6 August and 6 September
18 August 20246 September 202529 June 2026
Dates in various countries
Vietnam (Vu-lan Báo Hiếu)
Ranked list
Dates in various countries
Gregorian calendar
Occurrence
Dates
Country
Second Sunday of February
11 February 2024 9 February 2025 8 February 2026
Norway
3 March
Georgia
8 March (with International Women's Day)
mw- Albania Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Burundi Burkina Faso Kazakhstan Kosovo Laos Moldova Montenegro North Macedonia Russia Serbia Tajikistan Uzbekistan Vietnam
Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday)
10 March 2024 30 March 2025 15 March 2026
Guernsey Ireland Isle of Man Jersey Nigeria United Kingdom
21 March (Spring equinox)
Bahrain Comoros Djibouti Egypt Iraq Jordan Kuwait Libya Lebanon Mauritania Oman Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Somalia Sudan Syria United Arab Emirates Yemen
25 March
Slovenia
7 April (Annunciation day)
Armenia (Motherhood and Beauty Day)
First Sunday of May
5 May 2024 4 May 2025 3 May 2026
Angola Cape Verde Hungary Andorra Lithuania Mozambique Romania Portugal São Tomé and Príncipe Spain
8 May
South Korea (Parents' Day)
10 May
El Salvador Guatemala (working mothers only) Mexico
Second Sunday of May
12 May 2024 11 May 2025 10 May 2026
Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Australia Austria Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Belize Bermuda Bhutan Bonaire Botswana Brazil Brunei Canada Cambodia Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Congo, Dem. Rep. Congo, Rep. Cote d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guyana Honduras Hong Kong Iceland India Italy Jamaica Japan Kenya Latvia Liberia Liechtenstein Macau Malaysia Malta Myanmar Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Pakistan Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia South Africa Sri Lanka Suriname Switzerland Taiwan Tanzania Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Uganda Ukraine United States Uruguay Vietnam Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe
14 May
Benin
15 May
Paraguay (same day as Día de la Patria)
19 May
Kyrgyzstan (Russian: День матери, Kyrgyz: Энэ күнү)
26 May
Poland (Polish: Dzień Matki)
27 May
Bolivia
Last Sunday of May
26 May 2024 25 May 2025 31 May 2026
Algeria Cameroon Dominican Republic Haiti Madagascar Mali Mauritius Morocco Niger Senegal Sweden Tunisia
Last Sunday of May, or first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost
26 May 2024 25 May 2025 31 May 2026
France French Antilles
30 May
Nicaragua
1 June
Mongolia (together with Children's Day)
Second Sunday of June
9 June 2024 8 June 2025 14 June 2026
Luxembourg
14 June
Afghanistan
First Monday of July
1 July 2024 7 July 2025 6 July 2026
South Sudan
12 August
Thailand (birthday of Queen Sirikit)
15 August (Assumption of Mary)
Antwerp (Belgium) Costa Rica
Third Sunday of September
15 September 2024 21 September 2025 20 September 2026
Kazakhstan
14 October
Belarus (since 1996)
15 October, or following work day
15 October 2024 15 October 2025 15 October 2026
Malawi
20 October
Vietnam (Vietnamese Women's Day)
Third Sunday of October
20 October 2024 19 October 2025 18 October 2026
Argentina (Día de la Madre)
3 November
Timor Leste
16 November
North Korea
Last Sunday of November
24 November 2024 30 November 2025 29 November 2026
Russia
8 December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
Panama
22 December
Indonesia(Hari Ibu)
Hebrew calendar
Occurrence
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Country
30 Shevat
Between 30 January and 1 March 9 February 202428 February 202517 February 2026
Israel (Family Day)
Hindu calendar
Occurrence
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Country
Vaisakha Amavasya (Mata Tirtha Aunsi)
Between 19 April and 19 May
Nepal
Islamic calendar
Occurrence
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Country
20 Jumada al-Thani
2 January 202422 December 202411 December 202530 November 2026
Iran
Vietnamese calendar
Occurrence
Equivalent Gregorian dates
Country
15th day of seventh month
Between 6 August and 6 September 18 August 20246 September 202529 June 2026