Mother's Day Around the World
Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries, with adults and children alike paying tribute to their mums by giving them gifts, flowers and poems. However, the dates on which the celebration is held and the traditions associated with it do vary from country to country.
In France
In France, mums receive flowers, presents and chocolate from their little treasures, who have sometimes learnt poems or songs off by heart at school, to be recited with painstaking care during the family meal on the last Sunday in May.
"Mother's Day" in French: "Fête des mères".
"Happy Mother's Day" in French: "Bonne fête des mères" or "Bonne fête maman".
The next Mother's Day in France will be: Sunday, 25 May 2025
In Belgium
Mother’s Day continues to be celebrated in Belgium on the second Sunday in May. It may be marked on different dates in different regions, however. For example, in Antwerp, mothers are remembered on August 15th, the festival of the Assumption of Mary.
The next Mother's Day in Belgium will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Switzerland
Likewise, the Swiss also shower their mums with gifts and flowers on the second Sunday of May.
The next Mother's Day in Switzerland will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Luxembourg
In Luxemburg, on the other hand, Mother’s Day has been held on the second Sunday of June since the start of the 20th century.
The next Mother's Day in Luxembourg will be: Sunday, 08 June 2025
In Germany
In Germany, the custom is for mothers to do no work on the second Sunday of May, being instead attended on and spoilt by their children. The day often features a family walk followed by a nice meal.
"Mother's Day" in German: "Muttertag".
"Happy Mother's Day" in German: "Frohe Muttertag" or "Alles Gute zum Muttertag".
The next Mother's Day in Germany will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Argentina
In Argentina, Mother’s Day has always taken place on the third Sunday in October.
The next Mother's Day in Argentina will be: Sunday, 19 October 2025
In Brazil
It’s also on the second Sunday in May that Brazilian mothers, grandmothers and mothers-in-law are honoured with a family meal and sometimes a Serenade, a declaration of love sung by young children.
"Mother's Day" in Brazilian: "Dia das Mães".
"Happy Mother's Day" in Brazilian: "Feliz Dia das Mães".
The next Mother's Day in Brazil will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Canada
In Canada, including in the Province of Quebec, mothers are pampered on the second Sunday in May.
The next Mother's Day in Canada will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Danemark
In Denmark, rather than gifts, mothers receive flowers and chocolates on the second Sunday in May. This tradition is most common in small towns.
"Mother's Day" in Danish: "Mors dag".
The next Mother's Day in Denmark will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Hungarian
Hungarian towns celebrate motherhood on the first Sunday in May with concerts, plays and sports competitions for families.
"Mother's Day" in Hungarian: "Anyák Napját".
"Happy Mother's Day" in Hungarian: "Boldog Anyák Napját".
The next Mother's Day in Croatia will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Italy
Italian mums have been honoured on the second Sunday in May since the 1960s. Children bustle around, looking after mum and the airwaves are full of famous songs paying tribute to mothers.
"Mother's Day" in Italian: "Festa della mamma".
"Happy Mother's Day" in Italian: "Buona festa della mamma" or "Buona festa mamma".
The next Mother's Day in Italy will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In the Czech Republic
Mother’s Day made its reappearance in the Czech Republic in 1989, following the Velvet Revolution. The Czechs had previously held a special day in honour of women, rather than mothers. Mums are now spoilt by their children on the second Sunday in May.
The next Mother's Day in the Czech Republic will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
In Russia
The Russians sometimes group the celebration of mothers with International Women’s Day in March. The official Mother’s Day celebration has been held on the last Sunday in November since 1998. On this day, people show their appreciation of and generally pamper pregnant women and mums.
"Mother's Day" in Russian: "день матери".
The next Mother's Day in Russia will be: Sunday, 30 November 2025
In Norway
In Norway, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in February with flowers and cakes.
"Mother's Day" in Norwegian: "Morsdag".
"Happy Mother's Day" in Norwegian: "Gratulerer med morsdagen".
The next Mother's Day in Norway will be: Sunday, 09 February 2025
In Spain
In Spain, the festival of ‘El dia de la Madre’ falls on the first Sunday in May. It’s a day of rest for mothers, who are often taken out by their children for a meal in a restaurant. The restaurant itself will frequently get in on the act too, by giving mothers flowers.
"Mother's Day" in Spanish: "Dia de la madre".
"Happy Mother's Day" in Spanish: "Feliz Dia de la Madre".
The next Mother's Day in Spain will be: Sunday, 04 May 2025
In Portugal
In Portugal, mothers are remembered on the first Sunday in May. It is traditional, as in Spain and Italy too, that people go to church to honour the virgin Mary.
"Mother's Day" in Portuguese: "Dia da Mães".
"Happy Mother's Day" in Portuguese: "Feliz Dia das Mães".
The next Mother's Day in Portugal will be: Sunday, 04 May 2025
In Tunisia
In Tunisia, Mother’s Day takes place on the last Sunday in May, although this festival has not really been adopted by Muslim societies.
The next Mother's Day in Tunisia will be: Sunday, 25 May 2025
In China
Mothers in China have no official day set aside for them. Only people under the age of 35 celebrate their mothers on the second Sunday in May, like most other countries in the world.
"Mother's Day" in Chinese: "母亲节" (mǔqīn jié)
"Happy Mother's Day" in Chinese: "母亲节快乐" (mǔqīn jié kuài lè)
The next Mother's Day in China will be: Sunday, 11 May 2025
