When is Mother's Day in the U.S.? Everything you need to know for 2025
Mother's Day 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, May 11. Learn about its origins, how it's celebrated in the U.S. and around the world, and tips for making the most of this special day.
Attention, America! If you didn't celebrate Easter, which it was last week, the next holiday is coming up. Mother's Day, which is celebrated on different dates around the world, always falls on the second Sunday of May in the U.S.
The origins of Mother's Day can be traced to ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals to honor the mother goddess Rhea and Cybele, according to History.com. Here's everything you need to know in the United States.
When is Mother's Day 2025 in the U.S.?
Mother's Day always falls on the second Sunday of May. This year, Mother's Day in the U.S. falls on Sunday, May 11.
How is Mother's Day celebrated?
In the U.S., Mother's Day is typically marked by giving gifts, flowers, or cards, along with spending time together, often over a meal. It's a time when families treat their mothers to brunch or dinner. However, this can be challenging, as it’s the busiest restaurant day of the year.
Mother’s Day is celebrated differently worldwide. For example, in Thailand, it coincides with the birthday of the late Queen Mother Sirikit in August. Meanwhile, Ethiopia holds a multiday celebration called Antrosht, honoring motherhood.
What are the origins of Mother's Day?
The roots of Mother’s Day go back to Mothering Day in Europe, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It originally served as a day to return to the "mother church," but over time, it became a secular event where children gave gifts and flowers to their mothers.
The modern Mother's Day in the United States traces its origins to the post-Civil War era. Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia initiated "Mother's Day Work Clubs" that promoted the care of children and later united mothers on both sides of the Civil War. Her daughter, Anna Jarvis, envisioned Mother's Day as a way to honor her mother.
In 1908, with the help of Philadelphia department store owner John Wanamaker, the first Mother's Day celebration took place in Grafton, West Virginia, with a simultaneous event at Wanamaker's store.
Anna Jarvis lobbied for the holiday to be recognized nationwide, noting the lack of holidays celebrating women's contributions. Her efforts were successful, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially established Mother's Day as a national holiday.