Cityscope Team
Why Mother's Day Falls on Different Dates Worldwide
Mother's Day is celebrated on various dates globally due to cultural, religious, and historical factors. Learn about the origins behind these diverse observances.
The world unites in celebrating motherhood by taking a day to appreciate her journey of motherhood and thanking her for everything that she has been for her family.
The day however differs in countries all over the world and each country has a story attached to how these celebrations came into existence.
Every country has its own story on this occasion, and thus different days.
1. The United States, along with 100 more countries celebrate Mother’s Day on May 14th
Anna Jarvis was a social activist and an active community organizer during the Civil War era. She wanted to have a day honoring mothers after her mother passed away and thus this day came into being. Anna came to be later known as the Mother of Mother’s Day.
However, she was upset by the commercialization of Mother’s Day and this day became less about sharing love for mothers and more about business-making campaigns and money out of this day.
Anna Reeves Jarvis, Image credits: Narrative
The first Mother’s Day was initiated on the second Sunday of May in 1908, and Anna wanted all families to use this day to thank their mothers, a day of its kind that would later be celebrated for mothers.
India follows the same day as the US in celebrating their mothers.
2. The UK celebrates on the fourth Sunday of Lent
Mother’s Day in the UK started as a religious event with people visiting their mother church on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This day was called Mothering Day as it falls nine months before December 25th.
House helpers were given leaves on this day as they would return to their homes to greet their mothers and be part of this prayer, also because they would not get to see them any other time of the year.
Image credits: Evening Standard
This day eventually took a turn and became later to be known as the Mother’s Day that we celebrate now.
3. Argentina celebrates in October
Argentinians celebrate Mother’s Day on the third weekend of October, which coincides with the Virgin Mary's celebration.
Although the second Vatican Council decided to move the celebration of the Virgin Mary to January, Argentinians chose to stick with this date for celebrating their mothers.
Image credits: Office source
On this day, families come together, with children adorning their mothers with their love and showering them with all affection and making her feel like a queen.
4. Mexico celebrates on May 10
Imagine an entire country deciding a day to celebrate their mothers. That is exactly what happened with Mexico. This day in Mexico was initiated by a journalist; Rafael Alducin launched a nationwide campaign asking the Mexicans to choose a day distinctively to pay tribute to the Mexican mothers.
Image credits: National Daily
Mexico responded to this campaign positively and thus Mexico became the first Latin American country to celebrate Mother's Day. On this day, families come together, cook authentic Mexican dishes and celebrate their mothers and grandmothers with their hearts full of love and affection.
5. Emirati Mother’s Day to celebrate their moms on March 21st
The Emirates celebrates Mother’s Day on 21st March to thank the contributions of the strong pillars who built the nation. This day also started as a distinct day to pay tribute and homage to the mothers in the Arab world.
Gifts, cards, flowers, and a meal that she likes, all go down in the checklist of making this day special for her.
Image credits: Secret AbhuDhabi
6. Egyptians observe Mother’s Day on March 21
Mother’s Day has been a festive occasion for Egyptians to celebrate motherhood and this ritual dates back to mythological references of Goddess Isis reviving her husband Osiris who was killed and dismembered by his jealous brother. His body parts were hidden in different locations across the world.
Isis was successful in finding her husband’s body parts and reviving him and Osiris later went on to be known as the lord of death.
Her son, Horus avenged and restored the balance of the world. Her devotion as a wife and a mother to her family was highly revered and considered a symbol of what an ideal woman should be, thus dedicating a day for her to honor her.
Image credits: Al Arabiya
Over time, this celebration was redefined into what we know today as Mother’s Day with Journalist Mostafa Amin sending a letter to the Ministry of Education in Egypt to officially declare a day to honor mothers, which was approved in 1956.
Cover Image Source: Freepik
Cityscope Team
14th May 2023•4 mins read
Why Mother's Day Falls on Different Dates Worldwide
Mother's Day is celebrated on various dates globally due to cultural, religious, and historical factors. Learn about the origins behind these diverse observances.
The world unites in celebrating motherhood by taking a day to appreciate her journey of motherhood and thanking her for everything that she has been for her family.
The day however differs in countries all over the world and each country has a story attached to how these celebrations came into existence.
Every country has its own story on this occasion, and thus different days.
1. The United States, along with 100 more countries celebrate Mother’s Day on May 14th
Anna Jarvis was a social activist and an active community organizer during the Civil War era. She wanted to have a day honoring mothers after her mother passed away and thus this day came into being. Anna came to be later known as the Mother of Mother’s Day.
However, she was upset by the commercialization of Mother’s Day and this day became less about sharing love for mothers and more about business-making campaigns and money out of this day.
Anna Reeves Jarvis, Image credits: Narrative
The first Mother’s Day was initiated on the second Sunday of May in 1908, and Anna wanted all families to use this day to thank their mothers, a day of its kind that would later be celebrated for mothers.
India follows the same day as the US in celebrating their mothers.
2. The UK celebrates on the fourth Sunday of Lent
Mother’s Day in the UK started as a religious event with people visiting their mother church on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This day was called Mothering Day as it falls nine months before December 25th.
House helpers were given leaves on this day as they would return to their homes to greet their mothers and be part of this prayer, also because they would not get to see them any other time of the year.
Image credits: Evening Standard
This day eventually took a turn and became later to be known as the Mother’s Day that we celebrate now.
3. Argentina celebrates in October
Argentinians celebrate Mother’s Day on the third weekend of October, which coincides with the Virgin Mary's celebration.
Although the second Vatican Council decided to move the celebration of the Virgin Mary to January, Argentinians chose to stick with this date for celebrating their mothers.
Image credits: Office source
On this day, families come together, with children adorning their mothers with their love and showering them with all affection and making her feel like a queen.
4. Mexico celebrates on May 10
Imagine an entire country deciding a day to celebrate their mothers. That is exactly what happened with Mexico. This day in Mexico was initiated by a journalist; Rafael Alducin launched a nationwide campaign asking the Mexicans to choose a day distinctively to pay tribute to the Mexican mothers.
Image credits: National Daily
Mexico responded to this campaign positively and thus Mexico became the first Latin American country to celebrate Mother's Day. On this day, families come together, cook authentic Mexican dishes and celebrate their mothers and grandmothers with their hearts full of love and affection.
5. Emirati Mother’s Day to celebrate their moms on March 21st
The Emirates celebrates Mother’s Day on 21st March to thank the contributions of the strong pillars who built the nation. This day also started as a distinct day to pay tribute and homage to the mothers in the Arab world.
Gifts, cards, flowers, and a meal that she likes, all go down in the checklist of making this day special for her.
Image credits: Secret AbhuDhabi
6. Egyptians observe Mother’s Day on March 21
Mother’s Day has been a festive occasion for Egyptians to celebrate motherhood and this ritual dates back to mythological references of Goddess Isis reviving her husband Osiris who was killed and dismembered by his jealous brother. His body parts were hidden in different locations across the world.
Isis was successful in finding her husband’s body parts and reviving him and Osiris later went on to be known as the lord of death.
Her son, Horus avenged and restored the balance of the world. Her devotion as a wife and a mother to her family was highly revered and considered a symbol of what an ideal woman should be, thus dedicating a day for her to honor her.
Image credits: Al Arabiya
Over time, this celebration was redefined into what we know today as Mother’s Day with Journalist Mostafa Amin sending a letter to the Ministry of Education in Egypt to officially declare a day to honor mothers, which was approved in 1956.
Cover Image Source: Freepik