When is Mother’s Day?
Second Sunday in May. Here is the date, the background and what to know before you make plans.
Next Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 9, 2027Mother’s Day dates, 2026–2031
Rule: Second Sunday in May.
What’s open on Mother’s Day
| Service | Typical status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed Closed (Sunday closure, not a federal holiday closure) |
| Post Office / Mail delivery | Closed No regular delivery (Sunday); the week before is USPS’s busiest for card and package volume |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed Closed (Sunday; markets don’t trade weekends) |
| Federal & most state government offices | Closed Closed (Sunday closure) |
| Public schools | Closed Closed (weekend) |
Mother’s Day always falls on a Sunday, so the usual weekend closures apply; it is not a federal holiday, so it has no effect on weekday business hours in the days around it. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment. Check any date with the holiday status checker.
The story behind Mother’s Day
The modern American Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis, who held the first official observance in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist. President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing it as a national holiday in 1914, fixing it on the second Sunday in May.
Ironically, Jarvis spent much of her later life fighting the commercialization of the holiday she created, going so far as to publicly protest the greeting card and flower industries that had built businesses around it.
How it’s celebrated
Today it’s one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, florists, and phone calls in the U.S. Common traditions include brunch, flowers, handmade cards from children, and family gatherings honoring mothers, grandmothers and mother figures.
It is an occasion for many kinds of families. Some people honor a mother, grandmother, foster parent, caregiver or other person who has played a maternal role. Others find the day difficult; a thoughtful invitation leaves room for people to choose how they participate.
Mother’s Day generates more phone calls in the U.S. than any other day of the year, according to long-standing telecom industry data.
A planning timeline
Two to four weeks ahead, ask whether the person would prefer time together, a quiet day, a call or a meal. Book popular restaurants and travel early. A week ahead, check delivery cutoffs if sending flowers or a card.
On the day, make the practical work part of the gift: arrange transport, handle the reservation and let the guest of honor choose the pace. Schools, stores and restaurants may have different hours, even though this is not a federal holiday.
Mother’s Day planning checklist
- Three to four weeks ahead: reserve popular brunches, activities or travel.
- Ten days ahead: order personalized or shipped gifts with delivery time to spare.
- One week ahead: coordinate siblings, transportation and any accessibility needs.
- The day before: confirm restaurant, florist and attraction hours.
Frequently asked questions
What Sunday is Mother’s Day?
The second Sunday in May in the United States.
Do government offices close?
Mother’s Day is not a federal holiday; ordinary Sunday schedules usually apply.
Is Mother’s Day on the same date worldwide?
No. Many countries use a different date or tradition.
When is Mother’s Day in 2027?
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027.
Are restaurants and stores open on Mother’s Day?
Most are open, but popular restaurants may require reservations and individual hours can change.
Sources and how we check
Federal holiday dates and observed-day rules follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Market dates follow the NYSE holiday calendar; bank dates follow the Federal Reserve. Read our editorial policy or report a correction.