Mother’s Day Around the World

By Valentina Attanasio, BT Associate Editor

Click here to go on a Mother’s Day photo journey!

Mother’s Day is a very special day in honor of mothers. It celebrates motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is also an opportunity to show a mother who has lost a little one that you care about her, during what could be an extremely difficult time for her. You probably are well acquainted with this annual event, but did you know it is held on different calendar dates, depending on the country?

In most countries — including the USA, Canada, most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan, the Philippines and South Africa — Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Several countries — for example, the United Kingdom and Ireland — hold the event in March, while others opt for other months of the year.

The United Kingdom and Ireland celebrate Mother’s Day in March, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, for religious reasons. The tradition stems from the faithful returning to their “mother church” — the main church in the vicinity of their home — around this time, for a special service.

Check out the list below to find out when Mother’s Day is celebrated in other countries. And if you can’t find your country’s listing here, please let us know. Send an email to editorbt@llli.org. We’ll be happy to add it.

COUNTRY

DATE

Albania Sun, Mar 8
Argentina Sun, Oct 18
Australia Sun, May 10
Austria Sun, May 10
Bahamas Sun, May 10
Bangladesh Sun, May 10
Barbados Sun, May 10
Belgium Sun, May 10
Brazil Sun, May 10
Bolivia Wed, May 27
Bosnia and Herzegovina Sun, Mar 8
Canada Sun, May 10
Czech Republic Sun, May 10
Chile Sun, May 10
China Sun, May 10
Colombia Sun, May 10
Cuba Sun, May 10
Czech Republic Sun, May 10
Denmark Sun, May 10
Dominican Republic Sun, May 31
El Salvador Sun, May 10
Estonia Sun, May 10
Finland Sun, May 10
France Sun, Jun 7
Georgia Tue, Mar 3
Germany Sun, May 10
Guatemala Sun, May 10
Haiti Sun, May 31
Honduras Sun, May 10
Hungary Sun, May 3
Iceland Sun, May 10
Ireland Sun, Mar 22
Italy Sun, May 10
India Sun, May 10
Japan Sun, May 10
Latvia Sun, May 10
Lithuania Sun, May 3
Luxembourg Sun, Jun 14
Malaysia Sun, May 10
Malta Sun, May 10
Mexico Sun, May 10
Netherlands Sun, May 10
New Zealand Sun, May 10
Norway Sun, Feb 9
Peru Sun, May 10
Philippines Sun, May 10
Poland Tue, May 26
Portugal Sun, May 3
Puerto Rico Sun, May 10
Republic of Macedonia Sun, Mar 8
Romania Sun, May 3
Russia Sun, Nov 29
Senegal Sun, May 31
South Africa Sun, May 10
Spain Sun, May 3
Sri Lanka Sun, May 10
Sweden Sun, May 31
Switzerland Sun, May 10
Taiwan Sun, May 10
Thailand Wed, Aug 12
Ukraine Sun, May 10
United Kingdom Sun, Mar 22
USA Sun, May 10
Venezuela Sun, May 10

 

Mother’s Day Photo Journey

Celebrating Mother’s Day in a Tree – China

In 2019, Missy and her son celebrated Mother’s Day in a very special way. They went to a village in the suburbs to visit an ancient tree that is over 500 years old. Local people told them that years before a family had lived in the tree and gave birth to a baby girl there. Missy’s son took this unique photo as a memory of their day together!

 

Cherished Hand-painted Wishes South Africa

Florence Van Antwerpen received this beautiful hand-painted watercolor card from her daughter on Mother’s Day. In the card, Florence’s daughter wishes her mother “Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom” in Afrikaans.

 

Mother’s Day Special Breakfast, Topped with Cards – South Africa

Cecilia Teixeira enjoyed a lovely breakfast, specially prepared by her four gorgeous children. On Mother’s Day morning she found both delicious food on the table, and also four handmade cards filled with hearts, flowers, butterflies and lots of love!

 

Mother’s Day Breastfeeding Portrait – Italy

On Mother’s Day, Viktorija Jandrecic received this lovely drawing from her daughter. Her little one titled it, “My mom is breastfeeding me.”

 

Sweet Mother’s Day Moment Italy

Viktorija Jandrecic and her sweet daughters, holding each other’s little hands, while they enjoy a lovely moment of cuddles and breastfeeding on Mother’s Day.

 

Fun Trip on Mother’s Day – Italy

Enrica and her family enjoyed a stroll by Lago di Fimon — a  lake near Vicenza — their first trip after a very long period of lockdown. What better occasion than to celebrate Mother’s Day!

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References:

Calendarpedia, Mother’s Day 2020, https://www.calendarpedia.com/when-is/mothers-day.html (Accessed 5 March 2020)

OfficeHolidays,  Mother’s Day around the world in 2020, https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/mothers-day (Accessed 5 March 2020)

Timeanddate.com, Mother’s Day, https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/mother-day (Accessed 5 March 2020)