Every year, we take advantage of Mother’s Day to celebrate those who gave us life and accompany us every day. But do you really know the historical roots of this tender custom?
There mother’s day is the ideal opportunity to show our affection to our mothers. When does this unmissable event fall this year and how did it come about? It is also amusing to note that, on French territory, the initiative to pay official homage to mothers would initially be attributed to Napoleon!
When is Mother’s Day in France?
In France, mothers will be celebrated on Sunday May 31, 2026as is the tradition of the last Sunday in May.
What is the origin of Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day is not new. Already in Antiquity, the Greeks honored Rhea, mother of the gods, while the Romans celebrated “Matralia”, a day dedicated to women and mothers, well before our era. These pagan traditions were later eclipsed by the rise of Christianity. In France, it is in the small village of Artas, in Isèrethat a first ceremony in honor of mothers took place in 1906, at the initiative of Prosper Roche and the Union Fraternelle des Pères de Famille Méritants. The streets are decorated, the mothers rewarded: the festive spirit is there, and this date is today considered a turning point in the history of French Mother’s Day.
Napoleon would have been one of the first to raise the idea of an official celebrationbut it was not until 1926 that a real ceremony was organized on a national scale. Then, under the Vichy regime, Marshal Pétain established “Mothers’ Day” in 1941. It was not until 1950 that the festival was enshrined in law.and that its date be set for the last Sunday in May.
The date of Mother’s Day in different countries
If France celebrates mothers on the last Sunday in May, this date is far from universal because each country is based on different historical or religious traditions. In the United Kingdom, for example, “Mothering Sunday” is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In the United States, Mother’s Day was established at the instigation of activist Anna Jarvis, then made official in 1914. It is also the American model that inspired many other countries across the world, such as Canada, Belgium and Italy.
Here are the dates for Mother’s Day in the main countries:
- Sunday March 15, 2026 : United Kingdom, Ireland
- Saturday March 21, 2026 : Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
- Sunday May 3, 2026 : Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Lithuania
- Sunday May 10, 2026 : United States, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Turkey, Japan, China, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador
- Sunday May 31, 2026 : France, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Sweden, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Monaco, Senegal, Cameroon,
- Sunday June 14, 2026 : Luxembourg
- Sunday November 29, 2026 : Russia
Our crafts to make with children for Mother’s Day
In our Hugo the Snail section, you can find various DIY crafts to make for Mother’s Day. Coloring pages, DIY gifts, cards to print or even nursery rhymes to learn… Children will easily find an activity to do to express all their love to their mother on Mother’s Day. These gifts, made with care, can only amaze mothers, who will not fail to keep the works of art of their little treasures.
What meal to prepare for Mother’s Day?
If you are not part of the gift team, you can very well think of a gourmet treat that will delight your mother on her birthday. To do this, prepare a delicious meal, a whole menu or an all-inclusive service for the whole day. To help guide you, here are some ideas for special Mother’s Day gourmet recipes. Moms will be delighted to be pampered for a day.
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