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Switzerland, France, the UK, Spain: Mother's Day dates around the world and what explains them
Why isn't Mother's Day on the same date everywhere?
In short
In Switzerland, Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May: May 9 in 2027. In France, it is the last Sunday of May, May 30 in 2027. In the UK, it is Mothering Sunday, three weeks before Easter: March 7 in 2027.
These gaps come from each country's history: a religious calendar, a national law, a queen's birthday. Here are the main dates, and what to know if your mother lives in a different country than you.
Three main families of dates
Most countries follow one of these rules.
- The second Sunday of May, the American date set in 1914: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, the United States, Canada and Australia, among others.
- A date each country picked when it made the day official: the last Sunday of May in France, the first Sunday of May in Spain and Portugal, May 10 in Mexico.
- A date tied to an older tradition: Mothering Sunday in the UK and Ireland, in the middle of Lent.
Mother's Day dates in 2027
| Country | Rule | Date in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium | 2nd Sunday of May | May 9 |
| United States, Canada, Australia | 2nd Sunday of May | May 9 |
| France | Last Sunday of May, or 1st Sunday of June if that is Pentecost | May 30 |
| United Kingdom, Ireland | 4th Sunday of Lent | March 7 |
| Spain, Portugal | 1st Sunday of May | May 2 |
| Luxembourg | 2nd Sunday of June | June 13 |
| Mexico | Fixed date | May 10 |
| Arab countries | Fixed date, spring equinox | March 21 |
| Thailand | Queen Sirikit's birthday | August 12 |
| Argentina | 3rd Sunday of October | October 17 |
One exception worth knowing: in Belgium, the Antwerp region celebrates mothers on August 15, the feast of the Assumption.
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What explains the differences
- The religious calendar. The English Mothering Sunday depends on Easter, so its date changes every year. In the Catholic tradition, August 15, the feast of Mary, explains Antwerp's choice.
- National laws. In France, a law of May 24, 1950 set the last Sunday of May, moving the day when that Sunday is Pentecost. Other countries picked their own date when they made the day official.
- National symbols. In Thailand, Mother's Day coincides with the birthday of Queen Sirikit, regarded as the mother of the nation.
- The seasons. In several Arab countries, the day is March 21, the equinox, when spring returns.
For the history of the day itself, from Anna Jarvis to its arrival in Switzerland in 1930, read the origins of Mother's Day.
Switzerland or France: picking the right Sunday
Between Switzerland and France, the gap is often two or three weeks. Families living on both sides of the border know it well: a mother in Geneva and a daughter in Annecy don't celebrate on the same Sunday.
The day that counts is the one in the country where your mother lives. If she lives in Switzerland, it is the second Sunday of May, even if you are in France. And nothing stops you from celebrating both.
The same goes for British people living in Switzerland. Mothering Sunday falls in March, two months before the Swiss date: check which one matters to your mother before you book.
Sending flowers in Switzerland for the right date
Mother's Day falls on a Sunday, and we don't deliver on Sundays. The safest option is a Saturday delivery: May 8 in 2027.
- Anywhere in Switzerland: order before 4 p.m. on Friday for Saturday delivery. Delivery costs CHF 14.90.
- In the canton of Geneva: an order placed before 2 p.m. on Saturday can still be delivered the same day.
- You can book the date up to 15 days ahead, and it is a good idea: Mother's Day week is one of the busiest of the year for florists.
Ordering from abroad? Our page on sending flowers to Switzerland from abroad walks you through it. To choose the bouquet, see our Mother's Day flowers.
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