When Is Mother's Day? (Countdown & Dates)

When is Mother's Day?

In the United States and many other countries, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Because the holiday depends on the day of the week, the actual calendar date shifts every year, but it always lands on a Sunday.

What day of the week / how is the date determined?

The date of Mother's Day is determined by finding the second Sunday of the month of May. The earliest possible date for Mother's Day is May 8 (if May 1 is a Sunday), and the latest possible date is May 14 (if May 1 is a Monday).

A brief history of Mother's Day

The modern American version of Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. Anna Jarvis campaigned for a national holiday, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers.

Is it a federal holiday?

Mother's Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. It is a national observance established by presidential proclamation. Because it is always observed on a Sunday, banks and postal services operate under their standard Sunday schedules, and government departments do not close for it.

Related Pages

• When Is Father's Day — track the date of Father's Day.
• When Is Daylight Saving Time — check when DST starts and ends.
• Date Calculator — add or subtract a number of days from any date.