# Question for non-Americans: Mothers Day? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 6, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272 "2020-05-06T15:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/1 "2020-05-06T15:17:51Z")
This May 9th is Mothers Day. Does your country celebrate it? Also do they do Fathers Day? ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/2 "2020-05-06T15:32:18Z")
UK, we have both, but our mothers day-dates are different. Mother’s Day (or what used to be termed Mothering Sunday) this year fell on 14 March. Traditionally it was a Christian festival and involved going back to your ‘mother church’ - your local parish church or place of Baptism. It’s tied to Lent I think, hence the dates move about a bit. It dates back centuries. The Christian connection has basically gone, but the date remains. It’s always on a Sunday. Father’s Day is, I suspect, an American import, made to make Dad’s feel better. That’s always on the 3rd Sunday in June. No idea why. I think most countries have Mother’s and Father’s Days. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/3 "2020-05-06T15:55:26Z")
Mother’s day in Norway is the second Sunday in February. Father’s day is the second Sunday in November. Mother’s day was established in the early 20th century based on its success in the US. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/4 "2020-05-06T16:02:10Z")
Mothers day in Mexico is always on a Sunday in May. Fathers day is in June. It floats. Doesn’t need to be on a Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/5 "2020-05-06T16:04:13Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > This May 9th is Mothers Day. Cite? I’m pretty sure it is Sunday, May 10, 2020. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/6 "2020-05-06T16:13:30Z")
Canada follows the US calendar. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/7 "2020-05-06T16:32:07Z")
I love those occasional years when Fathers Day falls on my fathers birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/8 "2020-05-06T17:11:52Z")
Unlike most other countries, Panama celebrates Mother’s Day on December 8. It was originally on May 11 when it was established in 1924, but was moved to the same day as the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in 1930. It’s by far the biggest family holiday in the year, similar to Thanksgiving in the United States. It’s a national holiday and the banks and most stores are closed, and there are big family gatherings. (Nothing gets done in Panama from early November to early January, since there are nine national holidays between November 3 and January 9 for both secular and religious events.) ---
**Author:** ![Calavera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calavera/32/70_2.png) [@Calavera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calavera)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/9 "2020-05-06T18:11:37Z")
Man it was scary when all of the search engines went down 3 hours ago wasn’t it? It meant that even an absurdly simple question like “do other countries have mother’s day” needed a thread. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/10 "2020-05-06T18:34:10Z")
My wife is from Egypt, where Mother’s Day is March 21 (because it’s the first day of spring). Also here is a whole list of [Mother’s Day in every country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day#By_country_(A%E2%80%93G)). ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/11 "2020-05-06T19:09:01Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > Man it was scary when all of the search engines went down 3 hours ago wasn’t it? It meant that even an absurdly simple question like “do other countries have mother’s day” needed a thread. Hey, **Calavera!** How do I make a hard-boiled egg? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/12 "2020-05-06T19:19:10Z")
> [@Calavera](#): > > Man it was scary when all of the search engines went down 3 hours ago wasn’t it? It meant that even an absurdly simple question like “do other countries have mother’s day” needed a thread. Your implying I just could have Googled it? True, but I find it more fun when people give their personal inputs. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/13 "2020-05-06T19:25:33Z")
Well then, before you ask, yes we have brunch here too. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/14 "2020-05-06T20:09:04Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Well then, before you ask, yes we have brunch here too. IN these uncertain times, I’ve been fasting between brunch and lunch, taking only clear fluids (water, Tito’s, etc). ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/15 "2020-05-06T20:46:49Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Calavera](#): > > Man it was scary when all of the search engines went down 3 hours ago wasn’t it? It meant that even an absurdly simple question like “do other countries have mother’s day” needed a thread. You can’t get an interesting discussion from a google search. If you have no interest in a thread, don’t read it, and definitely don’t post in it. No warning issued, but do not threadshit. Your posts have been ratcheting up the snark lately. It would probably be a good idea to dial that back quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/16 "2020-05-06T21:03:43Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Also do they do Fathers Day? Panama celebrates Father’s Day the third Sunday of June (June 21 this the year) like the US. However, it’s not a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/17 "2020-05-07T00:55:54Z")
China has Mother’s Day and Father’s day on the same dates as the United States does. South Korea has Parents’ Day on 8 May every year. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/18 "2020-05-07T04:07:26Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > You can’t get an interesting discussion from a google search. If you have no interest in a thread, don’t read it, and definitely don’t post in it. While that’s true, the OP is not a call to an interesting discussion. It’s a request for facts. An interesting discussion would be "Here in the US we have Mother’s Day in May. A quick google search show that other countries have it as well. How does the celebration go in your country, assuming you celebrate it of course. 🙂 " See? Invitation to share interesting facts or insights. ---
**Author:** ![Remember\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/82dd89/32.png) [@Remember\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Remember_me)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/19 "2020-05-07T06:41:54Z")
Germany also celebrates Mother’s day on the second Sunday of May. It appears, that the majority of countries in the world use that date, according to Wikipedia. Father’s day is celebrated in Germany as well, but on Acension day. Also, it is celebrated differently to other countries. Instead of honoring fatherhood through children, wive or partner it is taken as an opportunity for men to take to a hike through the countryside with their mates and get drunk (please read Wikipedia for details and a photograph of a typical Father’s day tour). ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2020, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272/20 "2020-05-07T07:30:32Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > While that’s true, the OP is not a call to an interesting discussion. It’s a request for facts. > > An interesting discussion would be "Here in the US we have Mother’s Day in May. A quick google search show that other countries have it as well. How does the celebration go in your country, assuming you celebrate it of course. 🙂 " > > See? Invitation to share interesting facts or insights. Don’t think anyone’s stopping you [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-americans-mothers-day/853272.md?page=2)