When is Mother's Day 2027?
In the United States, Mother's Day always lands on the second Sunday in May, and in 2027 that's Sunday, May 9, 2027. So while the exact date shifts a little from one year to the next, it never wanders out of May. That makes it easy to keep track of: find May, count to the second Sunday, and there it is. A Sunday is handy too, since most people have the day free to make a fuss of mom.
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Why the date moves within May each year
The reason the date hops about is that it follows a weekday rather than a fixed number on the calendar. "The second Sunday in May" can land anywhere from the 8th to the 14th, depending on which day May begins on. The rule itself never changes, which is why a countdown like this one is handy: you always know exactly how many days you've got left.
Is Mother's Day a public holiday?
No, it isn't a federal holiday, so offices, schools, and the mail all run as normal. Stores and restaurants very much stay open too, and in fact it's one of the busiest days of the year for dining out. That doesn't take anything away from it: it remains one of the most widely observed days on the American calendar, just an unofficial one built around family rather than a day off work.
Dates by year
2027Sunday, May 9
2028Sunday, May 14
2029Sunday, May 13
2030Sunday, May 12
2031Sunday, May 11
The history of Mother's Day
Mother's Day as we know it is a fairly young tradition. It was championed by Anna Jarvis, who held the first official celebration on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her own late mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. She campaigned tirelessly to have the day recognized nationally, and in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing the second Sunday in May as a national day dedicated to mothers.
There's a twist, though. Jarvis had imagined a quiet, heartfelt day built around handwritten letters and time spent together, and she grew dismayed as it became increasingly commercial. She even spent her later years campaigning against the very holiday she had created. These days it's a thoroughly established occasion, and while the cards and gifts are everywhere, the heart of it is still simply saying thank you to the mom in your life.
How Mother's Day is celebrated in the US
For most families it's a relaxed, affectionate day rather than a formal one. A leisurely brunch is something of a tradition, whether that's out at a favorite spot or made at home, and breakfast in bed is always a winner. Flowers are the classic gesture, and the carnation in particular is the day's traditional emblem, the bloom Anna Jarvis chose because it was her mother's favorite. Pair that with a heartfelt card and a thoughtful gift and you've got the day covered. Above all it's about giving mom a bit of attention and a sense that she's been thought about, which doesn't have to cost a fortune.
Planning a thoughtful Mother's Day gift
With the date sorted, the fun part is the gift, and the ones that land best tend to be personal and actually used long after the day itself. A Mother's Day gift she'll reach for again and again beats something that ends up at the back of a drawer. A HappyHoodie is a lovely choice here, our giant, super-soft oversized hoodie that's basically a blanket you can wear, made for slow mornings and quiet evenings on the sofa. For more ideas, have a browse through our gifts for mom, where there's a bit of everything. Whatever you settle on, order in good time so it arrives well before the big Sunday rather than the morning after.
