Mother's Day 2025: date and countries

Dates by country

Mother's Day 2025 by country
Country	Date	Local name
Latvia	Sun 11 Mayweekend	Mātes diena
Lithuania	Sun 4 Mayweekend	Motinos diena

What is Mother's Day?

Mother's Day is a day for honouring mothers and motherhood, celebrated in many countries with flowers, cards, small gifts and family meals. In most countries, including Lithuania and Latvia, it falls on a Sunday and is an observance rather than a day off, so shops and restaurants are open and often busy. Schools and kindergartens often mark it with performances and handmade gifts. The date differs between the two neighbouring Baltic countries, so greetings across the border may arrive on different Sundays.

The date and history vary by country. In Lithuania it is the first Sunday of May; Soviet-era celebrations had been shifted to 8 March, and the May date was revived in 1987. In Latvia it is the second Sunday of May. In the United States it is the second Sunday of May, and in the United Kingdom Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, a separate Christian tradition. Other countries use fixed dates, such as 3 March in Georgia, 10 May in Mexico, 12 August in Thailand, 8 December in Panama and 22 December in Indonesia.

Why it is observed

The modern Mother's Day goes back to the United States, where Anna Jarvis campaigned for a day honouring mothers after the death of her mother in 1905. The first Mother's Day service was held in 1908 at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making the second Sunday in May a national day. The idea spread through the twentieth century, and countries adopted either the American date or one linked to a local event or religious feast, such as the Annunciation in Armenia, on 7 April, or the Immaculate Conception in Panama.

How the date is set

The date depends on the country. In Lithuania, Mother's Day is the first Sunday of May (2 May in 2027), and in Latvia it is the second Sunday of May (9 May in 2027). Other countries use other dates; in the United States it is the second Sunday of May.

How it is observed

Because it falls on a Sunday, Mother's Day is not a day off in Lithuania or Latvia, and shops, restaurants and public transport run as usual. Florists and restaurants are especially busy, so it is wise to book tables ahead. In a few countries with a fixed date, such as Thailand (12 August), Panama (8 December) and Georgia (3 March), it is a public holiday. Check the date for your country; pay and time off depend on national law and the contract.

Sources

Questions

Good to know

When is Mother's Day in 2025?

The date differs by country: Latvia 11 May 2025; Lithuania 4 May 2025.

Which countries observe Mother's Day?

In our coverage: Latvia, Lithuania. Only holidays that apply across a whole country are counted.

Why is Mother's Day observed?

The modern Mother's Day goes back to the United States, where Anna Jarvis campaigned for a day honouring mothers after the death of her mother in 1905. The first Mother's Day service was held in 1908 at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making the second Sunday in May a national day. The idea spread through the twentieth century, and countries adopted either the American date or one linked to a local event or religious feast, such as the Annunciation in Armenia, on 7 April, or the Immaculate Conception in Panama.

How is the date of Mother's Day set?

The date depends on the country. In Lithuania, Mother's Day is the first Sunday of May (2 May in 2027), and in Latvia it is the second Sunday of May (9 May in 2027). Other countries use other dates; in the United States it is the second Sunday of May.