Mother’s Day Around the World in 2021

Mother’s Day is widely celebrated across Australia, with many children showering their mum or mother figure in gifts and love for all the sacrifices they have made. This is when Mother’s Day is around the world and why the dates differ.

Mother’s Day is widely celebrated around the world. However, not all countries commemorate the day on the same date or for the same reasons. 

In the majority of the Western world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year, aligning with American historic events.

Whilst countries may celebrate on different days, the premise and purpose of the day remains the same, to show our mums or mother figures how much they mean to us. 

When is Mother’s Day around the world? 

When is Mother’s Day in Australia?

In Australia, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in May annually. Whilst the day is not observed as a public holiday, it is very widely celebrated across the country.

Mother’s Day in 2021 — 9 May.
Mother’s Day in 2022  — 8 May.
Mother’s Day in 2023 — 14 May. 

How did Mother’s Day begin in Australia? 

Legend has it, Mother’s Day in Australia was pioneered by Sydney woman Janet Heyden. Ms. Heyden wanted to bring joy to lonely elderly mums in hospitals she visited regularly — many had lost husbands and sons in the recent war. 

To do this, she contacted local schools and businesses and asked them to donate small gifts for these women. The first official Mother’s Day in Australia was celebrated in 1924. 

When is Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland?

In the UK and Ireland, Mother’s Day is linked to the religious holiday, Easter, therefore falling on a different date each year. Mother’s Day is always on the fourth Sunday during the period of Lent.

Mother’s Day in 2021 — 14 March.
Mother’s Day in 2022  — 27 March.
Mother’s Day in 2023 — 19 March.

How did Mother’s Day Begin in the UK and Ireland?

Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, is a tradition grown from the Christian faith. Each year on the fourth Sunday of Lent, it was tradition for those who had moved away from the town they had grown up in to return to and visit their ‘mother’ churches and, of course, their mums, baring gifts. 

Sadly, this tradition became lost with time until the American uptake of the tradition in the 1930s. Mother’s Day became a commercial opportunity for retailers in the mid 1950s.

When is Mother’s Day in America? 

Mother’s Day in America falls on the same date as Australia, the second Sunday of May. In America, the date is not recognised as a national holiday, although it is heavily celebrated across the country. 

Mother’s Day in 2021 — 9 May.
Mother’s Day in 2022  — 8 May.
Mother’s Day in 2023 — 14 May.

How did Mother’s Day Begin in America? 

Mothers Day in America is a tradition dating back to the early 1900s. Ann Reeves Jarvis started a ‘Mother’s Day Work Club’ in Western Virginia, where she lived to teach local women how to care for their children. During war times, these clubs soon became friendship groups where mothers gathered with former soldiers to promote reconciliation. 

When Ann Reeves Jarvis passed away in 1905, her daughter, Anna Jarvis, was not going to let her mother’s life work go astray. She worked tirelessly to have Mother’s Day recognised as a national day to celebrate the work and sacrifices all mothers across America make daily. 

After gaining financial support in 1908, the first Mother’s Day was held in a church in West Virginia. In 1914, the second Sunday of May was officially declared Mother’s Day by President Woodrow Wilson.

When is Mother’s Day in Thailand? 

In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the birthday of the current Queen — the Mother of the Country. Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit, was born on 12 August in 1932.

Mother’s Day in 2021 — 12 August.
Mother’s Day in 2022  — 12 August.
Mother’s Day in 2023 — 12 August.

How did Mother’s Day begin in Thailand?

Mother’s Day was first introduced in 1950 on 15 April. It was then moved later in 1976 to 12 April to coincide with Her Majesty Queen Sirikits’s birthday. The Queen Mothers Birthday doubles as Mothers Day in Thailand, with the nation celebrating the birth or the queen and honouring all mothers everywhere.  

Unlike most Western countries, Mother’s Day in Thailand calls for decoration. On this day, you’ll see homes decorated with flowers and coloured lights. It’s tradition to give to charities on this day, to pray for the Queen Mother, fill your home with jasmine spices and, of course, give gifts to your mother. 

When is Mother’s Day in Mexico? 

In Mexico, Mother’s Day (El Dia de la Madre) is celebrated annually on 10 May, no matter which day of the week it falls. The day is not recognised as a national holiday, but it is celebrated widely throughout Mexico. 

Mother’s Day in 2021 — Monday, 10 May.
Mother’s Day in 2022  — Tuesday, 10 May.
Mother’s Day in 2023 — Wednesday, 10 May.

How did Mother’s Day begin in Mexico? 

Mother’s Day only began in Mexico a little over a century ago and is now one of the busiest days for cafés and restaurants in the country. The day is heavily celebrated by the church as it supports the firm belief that ‘family is a sacred social unit’, with the first official Mother’s Day in Mexico celebrated on 10 May 1922. 

Wherever you are in the world, it’s nice to give mum or your motherly figure flowers any time of the year to remind her how much you care. Find florists near you on localsearch.com.au.

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      Katrina Stapleton

      Senior Digital Content Specialist

      Katrina Stapleton is a Senior Digital Content Specialist at Localsearch with a background in social media and marketing. Although most of her experience lies in the entertainment sector, Katrina has written content for a vast array of industries including tourism, hospitality, retail and property development. Katrina is an avid dog lover, who finds a way to weave her fur-baby, Mylo, into most conversations. Aside from being a self-confessed bookworm, Katrina can often be found checking out the Gold Coast's latest coffee nook, paddle-boarding or baking up a storm in her free time — all with Mylo by her side, of course! As a Senior Digital Content Specialist, Katrina enjoys sharing her knowledge and passions on the Localsearch Blog.