Don’t forget – it’s Mother’s Day very soon! That is, if you happen to be American or have a parent living somewhere other than the UK.
But why are there different dates for Mother’s Day around the world?
The American Mother’s Day was formally established by President Wilson in 1914 after a campaign was launched by an American woman from West Virginia named Anna Jarvis, whose own mother died in May. It has since been held every year on the second Sunday of May in the US and many countries around the world follow the US including India, Australia and New Zealand.
The tradition of Mother’s Day in the UK and Ireland, which is usually celebrated in March, can be traced to an early Christian festival which was celebrated on the fourth Sunday during Lent and initially intended as a date to encourage people to return to their local or “mother” church for a special annual service.
There are a number of countries that celebrate Mother’s Day with their own unique days, including Thailand, where Mother’s Day is marked on 12 August, the birthday of Queen Sirikit.
In Indonesia, Mother’s Day celebrations take place on 22 December and all women are celebrated, not just mums.
French Mother’s Day is celebrated in May, but on the last Sunday of the month rather than the second. This year, France will celebrate it on 26 May.
In Argentina, mums are celebrated on the third Sunday of October, which was the old date for the celebration of the Virgin Mary. That feast was moved to January by the Second Vatican Council, but Mother’s Day in October remains the normal across the country.
Russia only began celebrating Mother’s Day in the 1940s and marks the day on the last Sunday in November.
Wherever you are in the world on Sunday 12 May, whether you’re celebrating Mother’s Day or not, it’s a great opportunity to show love, gratitude and appreciation to all wonderful mums everywhere.
