Cards that arrive a day late don’t count. A countdown to Mother’s Day helps you plan the gift, the call or the trip before the weekend creeps up on you.
Choose the date your family keeps, and the clock does the rest.
How to use the Mother’s Day Countdown#
- Choose what to count to. Choose between Second Sunday of May (US, Canada, India, Australia and more) or Mothering Sunday (UK and Ireland).
- The figures are worked out when the page loads and again when you change an option or return to the tab.
- Use the extras. Mother’s Day in May is on the second Sunday of the month. Total hours, minutes and sleeps are listed underneath.
Two dates for Mother’s Day#
In the United States, Mother’s Day became a national holiday in 1914 after a campaign by Anna Jarvis, and it falls on the second Sunday of May. Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and many other countries use the same rule.
The UK and Ireland follow an older custom. Mothering Sunday began as a church occasion, when people returned to their “mother church”, and it’s held on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Nigerian families and churches may follow either date, so ask before you plan.
Beating the rush#
Flowers, restaurant tables and delivery slots go first. Order two weeks ahead if you can and book lunch rather than dinner, which is easier to get. If you live far from your mother, a call or a video chat on the day matters more than a perfect present, and a parcel sent a week early has time to arrive.
When is Mother’s Day in the next few years?#
Mother’s Day in May is on the second Sunday of the month. Mothering Sunday in the UK and Ireland is the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter Sunday, so it moves from year to year.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| Second Sunday of May (US, Canada, India, Australia and more) | ||
| 2027 | 9 May | Sunday |
| 2028 | 14 May | Sunday |
| 2029 | 13 May | Sunday |
| 2030 | 12 May | Sunday |
| 2031 | 11 May | Sunday |
| Mothering Sunday (UK and Ireland) | ||
| 2027 | 7 March | Sunday |
| 2028 | 26 March | Sunday |
| 2029 | 11 March | Sunday |
| 2030 | 31 March | Sunday |
| 2031 | 23 March | Sunday |
The story of Anna Jarvis#
The American holiday began with Anna Jarvis, who organised the first service in Grafton, West Virginia, in 1908, to honour her late mother. It became a national holiday in 1914. Jarvis later turned against it, furious at how much it had been taken over by card companies and florists, and she spent years campaigning against the commercial side of the day.
Dates across the world#
Mother’s Day is not on one date. In many Arab countries, including Egypt, it falls on 21 March, the spring equinox. Thailand marks it on 12 August, the birthday of Queen Sirikit. Mexico celebrates on 10 May whatever the weekday, Spain on the first Sunday of May, and France on the last Sunday of May. In 2027 the second Sunday of May is Sun 9 May 2027.
A plan for the day#
| When | What to do | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 3 weeks out | Choose between a meal, a trip or a gift | Sun 18 April 2027 |
| 2 weeks out | Book the restaurant and order flowers | Sun 25 April 2027 |
| 1 week out | Send any parcel and write a card | Sun 2 May 2027 |
| The day | Call early, or visit | Sun 9 May 2027 |
If your mother lives abroad, the one thing she is likely to want is time. Set the call for when she is free, and do not rush it.
Gifts that are not flowers#
- A recorded interview where you ask about her childhood and her mother, which becomes a family keepsake.
- A meal cooked by you, with nothing for her to clean up afterwards.
- A framed photograph, with a short note on the back.
- A day with no errands, with someone else taking over the usual chores.
For mothers who have died or are far away, a letter, a donation in her name or a favourite recipe cooked in her memory marks the day gently.
Frequently asked questions#
The second Sunday of May in most countries, and Mothering Sunday in the UK and Ireland.
Not in most places. It’s a Sunday occasion rather than an official day off.
It’s tied to Easter, which moves each year. It always falls three weeks before Easter Sunday.
Most Nigerian families follow the second Sunday of May, as in the United States, and in 2027 that is 9 May. Some churches and families also keep Mothering Sunday, which is the fourth Sunday of Lent and in 2027 falls on 7 March. Ask your family which date they keep.
Time and attention. A day doing something she enjoys, a handwritten letter, help with a chore she dislikes, or a family photo with each person writing a line on the back. Ask her about her own childhood and record the answers. For many mothers, a conversation like that means more than anything that comes in a box.
It is the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter Sunday. In 2027, Easter is on 28 March, so Mothering Sunday is on 7 March. The date moves every year with Easter.