How Different Countries Celebrate Mother's Day

Not One Day, but Many

Most people assume Mother's Day is a universal holiday falling on the same date everywhere. In reality, it is observed on more than two dozen different dates worldwide, and the customs range from flower-giving to multi-day festivals. The common thread is gratitude, but the cultural expression varies enormously.

United States: The Second Sunday in May

The modern American Mother's Day traces its origins to Anna Jarvis, who campaigned for a national holiday after her own mother's death in 1905. President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in 1914. Today, it is one of the biggest consumer holidays in the country, with Americans spending billions on flowers, cards, restaurant meals, and gifts. Brunch has become the quintessential Mother's Day ritual. Restaurants across the country offer special menus, and reservations fill up weeks in advance. Carnations, the original flower chosen by Anna Jarvis, remain popular, though roses, lilies, and mixed bouquets are equally common.

United Kingdom: Mothering Sunday

The UK observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent, typically falling in March. Its origins are religious rather than commercial: historically, it was the day when servants were given leave to return to their "mother church" and visit their families. Along the way, children would pick wildflowers for their mothers.

Simnel Cake

The traditional Mothering Sunday gift is simnel cake, a rich fruitcake topped with marzipan and decorated with eleven marzipan balls representing the apostles (minus Judas). While the holiday has absorbed many American-style commercial elements, the simnel cake tradition persists in homes and bakeries across England.

Thailand: The Queen's Birthday in August

Thailand celebrates Mother's Day on 12 August, the birthday of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. The day carries deep reverence: Thais wear light blue, the colour associated with Friday (the day Queen Sirikit was born), and present jasmine garlands to their mothers. Jasmine symbolises pure and unconditional maternal love in Thai culture. Schools hold ceremonies where children kneel before their mothers and present garlands while expressing gratitude. Government buildings and shopping centres display enormous portraits of the Queen Mother surrounded by flowers. The holiday is a public holiday, and many families attend merit-making ceremonies at Buddhist temples.

Ethiopia: Antrosht, a Three-Day Festival

Ethiopia's Mother's Day is not fixed to a calendar date but falls at the end of the rainy season, typically in October or November, as part of the Antrosht festival. When the rains clear and the sun returns, daughters arrive at the family home bringing ingredients: butter, cheese, spices, and vegetables. Sons bring meat, typically a bull or lamb. Together, the family prepares a feast. Mothers and daughters anoint each other with butter, a traditional gesture of love and celebration. The family sings songs dedicated to the mother, and the festivities extend over two or three days. There are no greeting cards or commercial gifts; the celebration is entirely about presence, food, and song.

Mexico: 10 de Mayo

Mexico celebrates Dia de las Madres on 10 May every year, regardless of the day of the week. It is one of the most emotionally significant holidays in Mexican culture. Mariachi bands serenade mothers at dawn, and families gather for large meals centred around mole, tamales, and tres leches cake. Schools hold festivals where children perform songs and recite poetry for their mothers. Restaurants are fully booked, florists sell out, and the atmosphere is one of genuine, demonstrative affection. The Mexican Mother's Day consistently ranks among the highest-spending consumer holidays in the country.

A Universal Feeling, Expressed Locally

Whether through jasmine garlands in Bangkok, butter anointings in the Ethiopian highlands, or mariachi serenades in Mexico City, the impulse behind Mother's Day is universal. But the traditions themselves are wonderfully local, reflecting each culture's unique way of expressing love and gratitude. The diversity of these celebrations reminds us that there is no single right way to honour the people who raised us.