When is Mother's Day?
In the United States, Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May, so it always falls between May 8 and May 14. Mother's Day 2027 is on Sunday, May 9, 2027. Canada, Australia, Japan and many other countries use the same Sunday, but not all: Mexico celebrates on May 10 every year, and the UK and Ireland celebrate Mothering Sunday in March or early April.
U.S. Mother's Day and UK Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter, so it moves with Easter.
| Year | U.S. Mother’s Day | UK Mothering Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Sun, May 9 | Sun, Mar 7 |
| 2028 | Sun, May 14 | Sun, Mar 26 |
| 2029 | Sun, May 13 | Sun, Mar 11 |
| 2030 | Sun, May 12 | Sun, Mar 31 |
| 2031 | Sun, May 11 | Sun, Mar 23 |
| 2032 | Sun, May 9 | Sun, Mar 7 |
| 2033 | Sun, May 8 | Sun, Mar 27 |
| 2034 | Sun, May 14 | Sun, Mar 19 |
History of Mother's Day
The American holiday grew out of the work of two women. In the 1850s Ann Reeves Jarvis organized Mothers' Day Work Clubs in West Virginia to teach families about sanitation and child health. In 1870 the writer Julia Ward Howe issued a "Mother's Day Proclamation" calling on mothers to unite for peace after the Civil War.
After Ann Reeves Jarvis died in 1905, her daughter Anna Jarvis set out to create a day honoring mothers. The first observances took place in May 1908 at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, and in Philadelphia. Her letter-writing campaign spread the idea from state to state, and in 1914 Congress passed a resolution and President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Anna Jarvis later grew unhappy with how commercial the holiday became and spent years campaigning against the card and flower trade it created.
Britain's Mothering Sunday has separate roots: it began as a day for returning to one's "mother church," and over time became a day to honor mothers.
How Mother's Day is celebrated
Common traditions include cards, flowers, brunch or dinner out, homemade gifts from children and phone or video calls with mothers who live far away. Carnations were Anna Jarvis's chosen symbol, and some people still wear a carnation on the day. Many families also use it to honor grandmothers, stepmothers and other women who raised them.
Planning with the countdown
- Book brunch early. Mother's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, so reserve a table weeks ahead or plan a meal at home.
- Order flowers and gifts ahead. Florists and delivery services are stretched in the final days. Ordering when the countdown still shows two weeks or more gives you better choice.
- Mail cards on time. Allow several days for delivery, especially if the card has to cross the country.
- Remember the UK date. If your mother lives in the UK or Ireland, Mothering Sunday comes weeks earlier; check the table above.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Mother's Day 2027?
U.S. Mother’s Day 2027 is on Sunday, May 9, 2027, the second Sunday of May.
What is the earliest and latest date for Mother’s Day?
Because it is the second Sunday of May, U.S. Mother’s Day always falls between May 8 and May 14.
When is Mother's Day in the UK in 2027?
The UK celebrates Mothering Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent and three weeks before Easter. In 2027 it is on Sunday, March 7, 2027.
Who started Mother’s Day?
Anna Jarvis of West Virginia campaigned for the holiday after her mother’s death. The first observances were in 1908, and President Woodrow Wilson made it national in 1914.
Is Mother’s Day a federal holiday?
It is a national observance proclaimed by the president each year, but because it always falls on a Sunday it is not a federal day off.
Last updated: October 8, 2026