Why Mother's Day is Celebrated on Different Dates Around the World

mother's day second Sunday of May Mother's Day in other countries Ann Reeves Jarvis

By Mavic Thompson , Parent Herald May 04, 07:00 am

Mother's Day was initially a U.S. holiday, but other countries also began celebrating it. But on different dates. Mother's Day is an international date honoring mothers and the influence of mothers in society.

The founder of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, started the holiday every second Sunday of May by organizing a small service in honor of her mother at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, as per Today.

History of Mother's Day

Anna Jarvis' mom, Ann Reeves Jarvis, used to organize Mother's Day Work Clubs to improve the sanitary conditions and curb the high infant mortality rate.

She launched the first formal "Mother's Day" at the same church in Grafton and a much larger ceremony in Philadelphia. Jarvis distributed white carnations to mothers, sons, and daughters who attended the event in Grafton. She waged a campaign for people to support Mother's Day and created the Mother's Day International Association. She wanted Mother's Day to be a private acknowledgment of what the mother does for the family. In 1914, Mother's Day became a national holiday.

Celebration of Mother's Day worldwide

The celebration has been adopted worldwide, albeit on different dates. Here is why:

Middle East

According to Aljazeera, most Arab countries celebrate Mother's Day on March 21, the first day of Spring. The celebration dates back to 1956 after Mustafa Amin, an Arab journalist, wrote it in his book. Ten years later, a woman who visited Amin's brother, Ali, spoke about how difficult it was to be a single mom. The idea of devoting a day as "Mother's Day" is celebrated in the country and other nations.

Citizens widely accepted the idea, and in 1956, Akhbar el-Yom newspaper's March 9 front page acknowledged the holiday. It also announced that it is celebrated every March 21.

Since then, other countries have followed suit.

China

Despite the celebration originating in the United States, people in China also celebrate Mother's Day because it is in line with the country's traditions of respecting the elderly and having filial piety towards parents, the Chinese government's official newspaper said.

The festivity falls on the fourth month of the lunar calendar, but like the U.S., it is often celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

France

France began celebrating the day in 1918, when "the country recognized mothers of large families" for their work and effort.

In 1041, the government used the celebration to support their policy to encourage larger families, with all mothers given the honor.

The festivity is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. France later moved it to the first Sunday of June.

Japan

Mother's Day was celebrated on March 6, the birthday of Empress Hujon during the Shōwa period.

However, in 1931, the Imperial Women's Union was organized. In 1949, "Praise Mothers" had their first meeting, and the society decided to adopt the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day.

Ukraine

Mother's Day in Ukraine is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, like in most countries. From 1928 until 1990, the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada celebrated Mother's Day. Soviet Regime banned the country's Mother's Day in the 1990s. In 1999, Ukrainian Women's Association fought for the holiday and its meaning. Mother's Day finally earned its official holiday status a year after, as per Russian Flora.