Why is Mother’s Day celebrated on different dates throughout the world? The second-Sunday-of-May rule does not apply everywhere, and there’s a good reason why. The Tempest A woman sits cross-legged with her smiling toddler outdoors. Make waves in your inbox For many countries, Mother’s Day is coming up soon, and we’re already scrolling Etsy or online stores to find the perfect gift for mom. For others, this Sunday is just another regular weekend with no celebrations. That is because not all countries actually observe the second-Sunday-of-May rule to commemorate the occasion. Did you know that the U.K. celebrates Mother’s Day in March, and it is called ‘Mothering Sunday’ instead? Or that for Egypt and the rest of the Arab world, the occasion is marked on March 21? Meanwhile, Russia celebrates it twice a year. With so much to remember, why isn’t there a standardized date for a momentous affair honoring a central figure in our lives?