Mother’s Day Is a Year-Round Holiday

Is it already Mother's Day? Well, perhaps it's closer than you think. But then again, come to think of it more critically, it already is here because Mother's Day season kicks off on the second Sunday of February in Norway, running through the spring, summer, and fall until Indonesia closes the line on the 22nd of December.

This makes the celebration a unique holiday in that it, somehow, doesn't have a fixed day across the world. You could say it is always Mother's Day somewhere in the world. Well, it's good to know that moms are always at the top of minds somewhere, somehow.

Mother's Days Around the World

Mother's Day is a special day that is celebrated all over the world to honor mothers and the love and care they provide to their children. This day is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world, but something that remains constant is the presence of flowers. Flowers play a significant role in Mother's Day celebrations, and they are the perfect way to show love and appreciation for the mother figure in our lives.

Why Mother’s Day Is a Year-Round Holiday — *Mother's Day celebrates mothers and other mother figures, such as grandmothers, stepmothers, and (yes, also) mothers-in-law. Photo by Atlantic Ambience*

Kick-off in Norway & the UK

So, the Mother's Day season starts in Norway with Morsdag, every second Sunday in February, where roses are a popular choice as they symbolize love, passion, and gratitude. Roses can be given in a bouquet or potted and are available in a variety of colors, each with its own meaning. Pink roses, for example, symbolize gratitude, while red roses symbolize love and affection. Tulips and lilies are also a top choice for Norwegian children as a gift for (grand) moms.

Mother’s Day Is a Year-Round Holiday — *Photo by @*

*hometownflowerco*

In the United Kingdom, Mother's Day, often named Mothering Sunday, is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent and is a time for families to come together to show their love and appreciation for their mothers. They celebrate mothers and other mother figures, such as grandmothers, stepmothers, and mothers-in-law. Many people, then, make a special effort to visit their mother.

Flowers play a big role in these celebrations, and people often give bouquets, potted plants, and other floral arrangements to their mothers. Some of the most popular flowers for Mother's Day in the United Kingdom are roses, lilies, daisies, and carnations.

8th of March?

Many countries celebrate International Women's Day on the 8th of March as a kind of Mother's Day. This is especially common in Eastern Europe and several countries in the Orient, like Laos and Vietnam.

Mother's Day - One of the Most Special Days — *Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva*

The Month of the Virgin

Some Catholic countries celebrate the start of the Month of the Virgin Mary as Mother's Day. That is why countries such as Spain, Portugal, Romania, and Hungary observe Mother's Day on the first Sunday of May.

The Biggest - The 2nd Sunday of May

In the vast majority of the world's countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, India, Germany, (this is truly a long list)... Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, and it is the busiest day for florists everywhere.

Like almost everywhere, flowers are one of the most popular gifts, and people buy everything from bouquets to potted plants to show their love and gratitude. Roses are a popular choice for Mother's Day as they symbolize love and appreciation, but many other flowers like daisies, carnations, lilies, and sunflowers are also given as gifts.

Late Mother's Days

Countries like Poland and France are quite late from a European perspective. Unlike most countries, Poland holds its Dzień Matki always on the very same date, regardless of whether it is a Sunday or not: the 26th of May.

The French probably have the most complicated calculation on the date of their Fête des Mères: The last Sunday of May, or the first Sunday of June if the last Sunday of May is Pentecost. Are you still with us?

Russia's Late Mother's Day

Mother's Day in Russia is not so big yet, miles behind the far more popular Women's Day, which is held on the 8th of March. Perhaps that's the reason for the late date of the other day to celebrate women, Mother's Day. There is no fixed date; it's always celebrated on the last Sunday of November.

Belgium Celebrates Partly in May and in August

In Antwerp, it's tradition that they celebrate Mother's Day on the 15th of August, on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. And not like in the rest of the country: on the second Sunday of May. It's a beautiful tradition to honor mothers on that date. In Thailand, they celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday as Mother's Day. Sirikit Kitiyakara was born on the 12th of August 1932.

Finally... Indonesia

Finally, Indonesia closes the long, long Mother's Day season. Here, this day is called Hari Ibu. Every year on December 22nd, families come together to celebrate their mothers and show their appreciation for all that they do. The flowers that are popular to give are red roses, carnations, and orchids.

Flowers Symbolize Love, Appreciation, and Gratitude

Flowers have a special significance in Mother's Day celebrations as they symbolize love, appreciation, and gratitude. They are the perfect way to show mothers how much they are loved and appreciated, and they bring joy and happiness to their lives. Flowers are also a beautiful and timeless gift, and will remain popular for years to come.

As mentioned before, Mother's Day is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world, but one thing that remains constant is the presence of flowers. Flowers play a significant role in Mother's Day celebrations, and they are a perfect way. Check these possibilities in your flower choice, and in which country they are particularly popular as a gift.

Roses for Mother's Day - A classic and popular choice in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia
Carnations (Dianthus) - Another popular choice, often associated with the holiday in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe
Lilies - A popular gift for Mother's Day in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa
Chrysanthemums - A traditional choice for Mother's Day in countries like Japan, South Korea, and China
Sunflowers (Helianthus) - A bright and cheerful choice that is popular in many countries, especially in South America
Orchids - A luxurious and exotic gift that is popular in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom

Tulips - A popular choice in countries like the Netherlands, where the flower is abundant, and in many other countries around the world
Peonies - A popular gift for Mother's Day in countries like China, where the flower is symbolic of maternal love
Daisies (Bellis perennis) - A sweet and simple choice that is popular in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
Irises - A stunning and elegant choice that is popular in many countries, including France, Italy, and Germany.

The Longest Flower Season

Yes, it's a long Mother's Day season, the most seasonally spread holiday in the world. It feels like it is always somewhere a Mother's Day. And that's great because mothers of the world deserve this attention. And we need to say this with flowers, of course...

Feature image by @darceyflowers, header image by Gustavo Fring.

FAQ

When does the global Mother's Day season begin and end?

The Mother's Day season kicks off on the second Sunday of February in Norway (called Morsdag) and runs all the way through to December 22nd, when Indonesia closes it out with Hari Ibu. This makes Mother's Day arguably the most globally spread holiday on the calendar, one that touches every season of the year.

Ethiopia's celebration, for example, called Antrosht, falls somewhere between October and November at the end of the rainy season, while Argentina celebrates on the third Sunday of October, meaning there is genuinely almost always a country honoring its mothers somewhere in the world.

Why do different countries celebrate Mother's Day on different dates?

The difference largely comes down to history. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the celebration developed from Mothering Sunday, a Christian tradition linked to the church calendar. In contrast, the American version emerged in the early twentieth century as a national holiday, and over time spread globally through media, culture, and international influence.

Many countries tie the date to local religious calendars, cultural traditions, or national events. Some Catholic countries, for instance, celebrate the start of the Month of the Virgin Mary as Mother's Day, which is why Spain, Portugal, Romania, and Hungary observe it on the first Sunday of May. Many Eastern European countries like Albania, Bulgaria, and Slovenia celebrate Mother's Day on March 8th, which is also International Women's Day.

Which countries celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, and how did that date originate?

The vast majority of the world's countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, India, and Germany, celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, making it the busiest day for florists everywhere. US President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday in 1914, declaring it would always fall on the second Sunday in May, a date many other countries now also observe.

The campaign was driven by Anna Jarvis, who had begun lobbying for the holiday after losing her own beloved mother, a Civil War-era social activist. Ironically, Jarvis later derided how commercialized the occasion became and even tried to abolish it.

What are the most popular flowers for Mother's Day, and do they vary by country?

Flowers remain the one constant across Mother's Day celebrations worldwide, symbolizing love, appreciation, and gratitude. The choice of flower, however, varies significantly by country. Roses are a classic choice in Norway, the US, the UK, and Australia, while chrysanthemums are traditional in Japan, South Korea, and China. Orchids are popular in Indonesia, and peonies hold symbolic importance in China as a representation of maternal love.

Because Mother's Day falls in autumn in Australia, white chrysanthemums replace the more typical carnations, which are a spring flower. In Thailand, jasmine flowers are the gift of choice, often given at school ceremonies. In France, Lily of the Valley is the preferred flower, and special meals are followed by children reciting poems and giving cakes shaped like floral bouquets or hearts.

Which countries have the most unique or unusual Mother's Day traditions?

While most celebrations involve flowers, meals, and gifts, some countries stand out for their more distinctive customs. In Ethiopia, the celebration centers on Antrosht, a three-day family feast where boys bring meat and girls bring vegetables and spices to prepare a traditional hash together, accompanied by singing and dancing. In Serbia, Mother's Day is part of a three-day family celebration in December; children sneak into their mother's room and tie her feet together with ribbon, and she must "buy" her freedom with treats or gifts.

In Mexico, Mother's Day is always May 10th regardless of the day of the week, and it's common for mothers to be serenaded by mariachi bands performing traditional songs. In Peru, families not only celebrate living mothers but also gather at the graves of deceased female relatives, bringing flowers, food, and drinks, with vendors even setting up stalls outside cemeteries to meet the demand.