• Get Started

MOTHER'S DAY

When is Mother's Day in 2024?

Mother's Day in 2024 is on the Sunday, 12th of May (5/12/2024).

Mother's Day is on the 133th day of 2024. There are 233 days left in the year.

Mother's Day Facts

  • Date: May 12, 2024
  • National (USA & Other)
  • Also Called:
  • Celebrations: Sending gifts to Mother
Mother's Day iImage Credit: PhotoXpress

Mother's Day celebrates motherhood and the contribution of mothers in society. The holiday is celebrated worldwide as an international day. The International Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday in May every year. It is often marked by people sending Mother's Day gifts and cards to their mother figures.

History of Mother's Day

The origin of Mother's Day is attributed to two women, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, who are believed to have established the idea of Mother's Day in the USA. In 1870, Julia advocated for an annual celebration of Mother's Day as a way to encourage pacifism and disarmament amongst women. For the next ten years, the holiday was held in Boston under Julia's sponsorship. The trend however died soon after. Julia is therefore notable for coming up with the idea of an official celebration of Mother's Day.

Anna Jarvis, also known as the mother of Mother's Day, held a private Mother's Day in 1907 as a memorial to her late mother. Anna launched a campaign for Mother's Day to be widely recognized, a quest that was financially supported by a clothing merchant from Philadelphia by the name John Wanamaker.

In 1908, Anna Jarvis organized and gave a sermon at the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. More than 400 kids and their mothers attended this service. Today, the church is a National Historic Landmark and has become the International Mother's Day Shrine.

In the years that followed, Anna's compassion for motherhood was evident as she campaigned for the recognition of Mother's Day, a national holiday in the US.

On May 8th, 1914, her efforts bore fruit after President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution that designated Mother's Day USA to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

How Is Mother's Day Celebrated?

Mother's Day in the USA has been commercialized in a big way. In fact, it is ranked position three after Christmas and Valentine's Day. People make an effort to treat their mothers and sending them Mother's Day flowers with sweet messages. Some of the popular Mother's Day gifts you can give to your mother figures include a day at the spa, cards, chocolate, jewelry, and clothing.

You can also take your mom out for dinner or lunch, but be sure to book a spot well in advance. Most restaurants are usually filled to the brim on the mother's day weekend as kids don't want their mothers to cook on such a special day. It will not be a wonder if you receive breakfast in bed on this day. It is a common trend for husbands and children to treat their special mother.

If you can not afford to give your mother figure a treat on this day, a simple phone call wishing her a happy Mother's Day will suffice. Better still, offer to clean or de-clutter the house for them.

Mother's Day Traditions across the World

Besides being marked on different days, versions of Mother's Day traditions vary from one country to another. In Thailand, Mother's Day is observed in August, which happens to be the birthday of Sirikit, the current queen of the land.

As for Ethiopia, the Mother's Day is marked by a large feast and families singing songs to praise motherhood. This day is commonly known as Antrosht.

Mother's Day in the US and many other countries is seen as a time to launch feminist causes. For instance, in 1968, the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. used the day to host a march that would support underprivileged women and children in society. A similar movement was used in 1970 to highlight the need for equality for all and access to childcare.

Alternative Days for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is an international holiday but observed on different days across the globe. Most countries mark the day on the second Sunday in May. However, the UK and Ireland observe it on the fourth Sunday in Lent. For the majority of Arab countries, Mother's Day is on March 21st every year. On the other hand, most East European countries celebrate the day on March 8th.

Mother's Day Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME
  • Sun
  • May 10, 2009
  • Sun
  • May 09, 2010
  • Sun
  • May 08, 2011
  • Sun
  • May 13, 2012
  • Sun
  • May 12, 2013

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
MondayMonJan 16, 2023Jan 16M L King Day
MondayMonFeb 20, 2023Feb 20Presidents' Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter Sunday
MondayMonMay 29, 2023May 29Memorial Day
MondayMonJun 19, 2023Jun 19Juneteenth
TuesdayTueJul 04, 2023Jul 04Independence Day
MondayMonSep 04, 2023Sep 04Labor Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Columbus Day
SaturdaySatNov 11, 2023Nov 11Veterans Day
ThursdayThuNov 23, 2023Nov 23Thanksgiving Day
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
TuesdayTueJul 11, 2023Jul 11Amazon Prime Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day