Lorraine Williamson
Mother’s Day in Spain is celebrated on the first Sunday in May, a date now so familiar that many people assume it has always been that way. Yet the story of Mother’s Day in Spain is more complicated. The celebration has moved through religious calendars, civic campaigns and imported traditions before finally settling into the spring date Spanish families know today.
The modern idea of Mother’s Day began in the United States.
In the 19th century, Ann Jarvis organised gatherings to bring families together after the American Civil War. Her daughter, Anna Jarvis, later campaigned for an official day to honour mothers.
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson recognised Mother’s Day in the United States. It was marked on the second Sunday in May, linking the celebration to spring, renewal and family care.
In the United States, Mother’s Day is still celebrated on the second Sunday in May. The date was formalised in 1914 after Anna Jarvis’s campaign, and it was linked partly to the memory of her mother, Ann Jarvis. Spain later adopted the broader May tradition, but chose the first Sunday instead.
How the idea reached Spain
Spain came to the tradition later.
In 1926, postal worker and poet Julio Menéndez wrote a public appeal calling for a special day to recognise mothers. He described maternal love as one of the strongest bonds in life and asked for it to be formally honoured.
The idea gained attention, but Spain did not immediately settle on a fixed date.
A year later, flower stalls appeared in several Spanish cities on 4 October. Children could buy flowers for their mothers, and the gesture began to spread. It was simple, affordable and emotionally direct.
Why the date kept changing
For years, Mother’s Day in Spain did not have a stable place in the calendar.
At different points, it was linked to 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. That reflected Spain’s Catholic tradition, where the Virgin Mary was closely associated with motherhood.
During the Second Republic, the celebration shifted towards May. Under Franco, it returned to December.
As a result, the day carried both religious and family meaning, but its timing remained unsettled.
Spain finally chose the first Sunday in May
The date became fixed in 1965.
Spain moved Mother’s Day to the first Sunday in May, bringing it closer to the spring tradition already followed in other countries.
The change also helped separate the celebration from the December religious calendar. May felt warmer, lighter and better suited to family gatherings, flowers and outdoor life.
Since then, the first Sunday in May has remained the date for Mother’s Day in Spain.
How families celebrate today
Today, Mother’s Day in Spain is usually warm, relaxed and family-centred.
Many families gather for a long lunch at home or in a restaurant. For many mothers, the meal matters more than the gift. It is a chance to sit together, talk and be appreciated.
Children often bring home drawings, cards or handmade gifts prepared at school. Adults may give flowers, perfume, chocolates or something personal.
Florists, bakeries and restaurants usually see a busy weekend, especially in towns and cities where families come together for Sunday lunch.
A celebration with a simple message
Although the date has changed over time, the heart of the day has stayed much the same.
Mother’s Day in Spain is not usually grand or formal. It is about attention, gratitude and time together.
In a country where family remains central to daily life, the first Sunday in May has become a gentle pause in the year: a day to say thank you, often over lunch, flowers and familiar conversation.