Mother's Day 2024 was on Sunday, May 12, 2024 in the USA. In the UK, Mothering Sunday 2024 was on Sunday, March 10, 2024. The two countries use different rules. The US date is always the second Sunday in May. The UK date is the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter Sunday.
Mother's Day 2024 date at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When was Mother's Day 2024 in the USA? | Sunday, May 12, 2024 |
| When was Mothering Sunday 2024 in the UK? | Sunday, March 10, 2024 |
| US rule | Second Sunday in May |
| UK rule | Fourth Sunday of Lent, 21 days before Easter Sunday |
| Is it a public holiday? | No. It always falls on a Sunday in both countries. |
When was Mother's Day 2024?
What day was Mother's Day in 2024? In the USA, Canada and Australia, the 2024 Mother's Day fell on Sunday, May 12. That was the second Sunday of May 2024, so Mother's Day 2024 USA was May 12.
When was Mother's Day in 2024 in the UK? In the UK and Ireland, Mother's Day 2024 fell on Sunday, March 10. Easter Sunday 2024 was March 31, and Mothering Sunday is three weeks earlier.
So what date was Mother's Day in 2024? The Mothers Day date 2024 depends on where you live. People who searched for the 2024 Mothers Day date in March were usually in the UK. People who searched in May were usually in the US.
When is Mother's Day in the USA?
US Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May every year. Congress set that date in a joint resolution on May 8, 1914. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation the next day, May 9, 1914 (Fox News).
When is English Mother's Day?
English Mother's Day is called Mothering Sunday. It is the fourth Sunday of Lent, which always falls 21 days before Easter Sunday. Because Easter moves each year, Mothering Sunday moves between early March and early April.
Mothering Sunday 2024 was March 10. For Mothers Day UK 2025, the date was March 30, and UK Mother's Day 2026 was March 15.
Mother's Day dates in the UK and USA, 2024 to 2030
US dates follow the second Sunday in May. UK dates are 21 days before Easter Sunday for each year.
| Year | USA (second Sunday in May) | UK (Mothering Sunday) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sunday, May 12 | Sunday, March 10 |
| 2025 | Sunday, May 11 | Sunday, March 30 |
| 2026 | Sunday, May 10 | Sunday, March 15 |
| 2027 | Sunday, May 9 | Sunday, March 7 |
| 2028 | Sunday, May 14 | Sunday, March 26 |
| 2029 | Sunday, May 13 | Sunday, March 11 |
| 2030 | Sunday, May 12 | Sunday, March 31 |
Mother's Day dates in other countries
Many countries follow the US rule, but some use a fixed date or a different Sunday. The rules below come from Mappr's Mother's Day by country list.
| Country | Rule |
|---|---|
| USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, India, South Africa | Second Sunday of May |
| UK and Ireland | Fourth Sunday of Lent (Mothering Sunday) |
| Mexico | May 10, every year |
| Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE | March 21 |
| Spain and Portugal | First Sunday of May |
| France | Last Sunday of May |
| Norway | Second Sunday of February |
| Thailand | August 12 |
| Argentina | Third Sunday of October |
| Russia | Last Sunday of November |
A short history of Mother's Day
Anna Jarvis of West Virginia founded the US holiday in honor of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who died on May 9, 1905. The first observance was held in 1908 at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Jarvis gave out 500 white carnations to the 400 people who came (West Virginia University Libraries).
By 1909 the day was marked in 45 states. Congress and President Wilson made it official in 1914 (West Virginia University Libraries). Jarvis later turned against the holiday's commercial side and by 1920 urged people not to buy flowers for it (Fox News).
The UK's Mothering Sunday is older and church-based. It is tied to Lent, which is why the UK date follows Easter instead of a fixed Sunday in May.
How to plan ahead for the next Mother's Day
- Put both dates in your calendar if you have family in the UK and the US.
- Order personalized gifts at least two weeks early. Embroidery and shipping both take time.
- Write the card first. A short message is easier to write before the rush.
- Book brunch early. Restaurants fill up on both Sundays.
Looking for gift ideas? See our personalized Mother's Day gift ideas, or stitch her name on our personalized embroidered name hoop. For card wording, read our Mother's Day quotes for all the moms and in-laws and Mother's Day messages for daughter. For trivia, see our Mother's Day facts.
Frequently asked questions
What day was Mother's Day 2024?
In the USA, Sunday, May 12, 2024. In the UK, Sunday, March 10, 2024. If you are checking last year Mother's Day 2024 for a card or a calendar, use the date for your country.
When is Mother Day 2024 compared with other years?
Mother Day 2024 was earlier in the UK (March 10) than in 2025 (March 30). In the US it moved from May 12 in 2024 to May 11 in 2025. See the table above for all Mothers days 2024 to 2030.
What day is Mother's Day 2024 in the US calendar?
The Mother's Day date 2024 in the US calendar was Sunday, May 12.
When is Mothering Sunday?
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent, 21 days before Easter Sunday. When is Mothering Sunday 2024? It was March 10, 2024.
When was Mother's Day 2025 UK?
UK Mother's Day 2025 was Sunday, March 30, 2025. In the USA it was Sunday, May 11, 2025.
Why are UK and US Mother's Day on different dates?
The US date was set by Congress in 1914 as the second Sunday in May. The UK date comes from the church calendar and follows Easter.
Is Mother's Day a public holiday?
No. It always falls on a Sunday in both the UK and the USA, so there is no extra day off.
