Mother’s Day 2024: When is Mother’s Day This Year?

Happy Mother’s Day 2024! Discover 10 fun ideas for treating mom today, including some special recipes. Also read about this ancient celebration, once called Mothering Sunday, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent with Christmas Eve.

When Is Mother’s Day?

In the US, Mother’s Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of the month of May. Hence the date changes every year. Although Mother’s Day is a national holiday that is widely celebrated in the US, it is not a state or public holiday. It is not mandatory for everyone to observe it.

Mother’s Day Dates

The History of Mother’s Day

This day is given to honor the mother, which we know as Mother’s Day. As long as mothers have existed. In ancient times, festivals honoring mothers were associated with the fertility, birth, creative and development cycle of gods and goddesses, so their day was celebrated according to their birth date. Mother not only protects and nurtures the child but is also the protector of the entire humanity. The Phrygians held a festival for Cybele, the great mother of the gods. The Greeks and Romans also respected the mere figures of their gods. Even today many festivals are celebrated in India that respect Goddess Durga, such as Durga Puja. India is called Bharat Mata in respect of India.

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Mothering Sunday

Before Mother’s Day was celebrated by Americans, Europeans honored their mothers on Mothering Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. During the Middle Ages, workers were mainly daughters and domestic servants who worked as servants and servants. Mothers would be given a holiday on the fourth Sunday of Lent to return to church. This was the rule they came up with.

Family reunions are a part of the day in which the family meets. Sons and daughters would take care of all household duties and prepare a special dinner in honor of their mother. Sometimes during the day the mother would attend special church services with her family.

The Simnel Cake

In 16th century England the eldest son or daughter would celebrate a mother’s  day with a simnel cake, which would be cut and distributed among the whole family. Simnel cake is a dried fruit cake with two layers of almond paste. The cake is made with 11 balls of icing on the top representing the 11 disciples. It is also traditionally topped with sugar violets.

Who “Invented” the Modern Mother’s Day?

Three women played significant roles in establishing the tradition of Mother’s Day in the United States. Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis. You may be surprised to learn that the women honored as mothers were activists who fought for the welfare and health of children and for peace.

10 Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day This Year

Here are 10 more creative ways to give mom a little extra comfort, love and recognition today. After all, mom does a lot for us so we should do something for her too.

1. Offer your own services in the garden.

If you’re local to your mom, give her a “gift certificate” offering your own services to put down mulch or plant flowers. Put the certificate in a flower pot with spring-planted bulbs that flower in summer.

If you’re not local, how about a subscription to the Almanac Garden Planner to help her design her dream garden on her computer.

2. Decorate your mom’s door or give flowers.

If you’re nearby, you can have fun decorating your mom’s front door with streamers, special signs, a wreath, and flowers!

A potted plant such as a geranium is always welcome.

Buying cut flowers? See the symbolic meanings of common flowers!

Here’s another idea! Make a bouquet with the monthly birth flowers of each child.

3. Cook for Mom with these recipe ideas.

Breakfast in bed is always a classic and appreciated! Something simple is fine for this, such as toast or a croissant with jam or fruit and a cup of coffee or tea. Or, serve her a proper brunch with one of these 15 delicious brunch ideas, including Champagne Mimosas.

Or, bake one of our simple cakes! We love this Apple Pie Cake as well as Nana’s Funny Cake.

4. Give your mom a call or put on a virtual talent show!

Just give your mom a ring or “Zoom” and make her laugh. Perhaps prepare some good “mom jokes.”

Put on a talent show! It can be simple. Sing a song, show off some gymnastics, or play an instrument.

5. Watch a movie or show together, side by side.

If you’re all at home in one place, have a movie night, complete with theater treats.

If you’re in separate locations, watch the same movie on your computers at the same time. Or, start a marathon of your favorite TV series.

6. Get creative: Make mom a video, a music playlist, or a piece of art!

Record a video from all of the children. They can each say “Happy Mother’s Day” and explain why they appreciate her. You can always use iMovie to splice videos together on your phone.

Make a tape or a music playlist. You could gather calming songs for bedtime, such as the sound of the sea. Or, you could gather her very favorite songs from the era that she loves most. (If your mom has an iPhone, create a special iTunes playlist that will get emailed to her.)

How about a special work of art for mom?  For example, paint the outside of a terra-cotta flower pot and fill it with garden seeds and a card. Or, make a beautiful photo frame with your family photo inside. You can find many ideas on Pinterest and elsewhere on the Web.

7. Get outside! Go for a stroll in the park, or how about packing mom a picnic?

Fresh air always lifts the spirit. Spring is a wonderful time to visit a park and look for all those lovely spring flowers.

How about packing a simple picnic? If mom’s living nearby, drop off a picnic basket on her porch! If you’re living together, pack a cooler for a beautiful drive through the countryside. Here are great picnic food ideas.

8. Travel virtually to a museum or garden!

Even if you’re not together, the wonders of technology make so much possible today. More and more museums are opening up their “walls” to offer virtual tours!

Set up a Mother’s Day date for you and your mom to visit the Louvre in Paris! Or how about the Vatican in Rome? Or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City?

Would you rather take in the marvels of nature? Check out this Nature Conservancy virtual field trip in Oklahoma!

Is mom a garden lover? The famous Holland tulip farm Keukenhof has created a virtual tulip tour! You could also visit Monet’s Gardens in France to see the waterlilies! Or how about taking a virtual trip to Hawaii to see tropical flowers?

9. Make your own card.

Don’t forget to send a card in advance! In our home, it’s a tradition to make a homemade card every year. Moms love homemade! Here’s one way to make Homemade Note Cards.