When was Mother's Day in 2018 2018?

Mother's Day Dates Around the World

Mother's Day is not celebrated on the same date everywhere. The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all observe it on the second Sunday in May. The United Kingdom and Ireland, however, celebrate Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent — typically in March — a date tied to the Christian calendar rather than a fixed month. Because Easter is a moveable feast, the UK date shifts each year.

Elsewhere, dates vary even more widely. Many Arab countries mark Mother's Day on March 21st (the spring equinox). Thailand celebrates on August 12th, the birthday of Queen Sirikit. In Mexico and much of Latin America, Mother's Day is fixed on May 10th regardless of the day of the week. France observes Fete des Meres on the last Sunday of May (or the first Sunday of June if it clashes with Pentecost). These differences mean that multinational families sometimes celebrate Mother's Day more than once a year.

Mother's Day in the United States falls on the second Sunday in May each year. In 2026, that date is May 10th. Unlike some holidays with fixed calendar dates, Mother's Day moves with the calendar, so it can fall anywhere between May 8th and May 14th depending on the year.

Origins and History

The modern Mother's Day was founded by Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia. Following the death of her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, in 1905, Anna campaigned tirelessly for an official day to honor mothers. Her efforts paid off when, on May 10, 1908, the first official Mother's Day celebration was held at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton. Just six years later, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother's Day a national holiday, to be observed on the second Sunday of May.

Ironically, Anna Jarvis later became one of the holiday's fiercest critics. She was dismayed at how quickly it was commercialized by florists, greeting card companies, and candy makers — precisely the kind of exploitation she had never intended. She spent much of her later life protesting what she called the "prostitution" of her creation, and died in 1948 having disowned the holiday she founded.

It is worth noting that the United Kingdom celebrates Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent — a different date that predates the American tradition by centuries, rooted in the practice of visiting one's "mother church." While the two holidays have converged in spirit, they remain distinct in origin and date.

How It Is Celebrated

Today, Mother's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, as families take mothers out for brunch or dinner. It is the single largest day for flower sales in the United States, particularly roses and carnations. Greeting cards, gift baskets, chocolates, and spa experiences are popular gifts. Many families mark the occasion with handmade cards and school crafts. For those who cannot be with their mothers in person, phone calls and video chats have become a cherished tradition. The day is also used to honor grandmothers, stepmothers, and other mother figures in people's lives.

For more information, see Mother's Day on Wikipedia