If you’ve lived in the U.S. for long enough, you may have experienced the guilty panic that accompanies the late-March realization that Mother’s Day in the UK is fast approaching—and you probably didn’t send a card in time.

While Moonpig and Funky Pigeon—and yes, other UK-based greeting card companies are available, albeit ones with less catchy TV jingles—may be able to save you, every year you may find yourself wondering: why is Mother’s Day always in March in the UK, but May in the U.S.?

The Origins of Mother’s Day in the UK

In the UK, Mother’s Day—more traditionally known as Mothering Sunday—has its roots in Christianity. It falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter. Historically, it was the day when people would return to their “mother church”—the main church or cathedral in their area—for a special service. Over time, this religious tradition evolved into an occasion for honouring mothers, as families reunited and children (particularly those working away from home) brought gifts or flowers.

So in short, it’s tied to the church calendar, which is why the date shifts slightly each year—but always lands in March.

The Origins of Mother’s Day in the U.S.

The American version of Mother’s Day is a more modern invention.

It was championed by Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century, who wanted to create a national day to honour mothers and their sacrifices. After years of campaigning, in 1914, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

So unlike the UK’s church-based origins, the U.S. version is secular from the get-go. It’s all about mums (or moms), and it’s firmly fixed to the calendar, which is why it always falls in May.

So happy Mother’s Day, Britain! See you again in May when we celebrate the moms.

Additional resources

For those in the community whose mums are no longer with us, it can be extra tough to be reminded—twice—of the pain of losing someone. So if you need support, there are resources and organisations out there that do amazing work, like Capital Caring Health in the DMV area (https://www.capitalcaring.org/get-help/our-services/grief-support).

transatlanticist

Oli Ward

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