Mother's Day 2016: Which countries celebrate it on 8 May – and why?

Where in the world is it Mother's Day? And how does it differ between countries

Mother's Day cactus, anyone? At least it's not an ironing board... (AFP/Getty Images)

When is Mother’s Day?

Don’t worry if you live in the UK (though you may need to if you live in the US). For many countries around the world, today - second Sunday in May - is Mother’s Day.

When is it in other countries?

In the UK, Mother's Day is always on the fourth Sunday of Lent (this year’s, as you’ll know, was back on 6 March). The French, meanwhile, celebrate the event on a different day altogether – “Maman's” day is reserved for the last Sunday in the month of May. Whereas in Spain, Mother’s Day is celebrated on 8 December, when they also pay tribute to the Virgin Mary.

Is it Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day?

When you say "Mother’s Day" you are actually referring to the American version of the event. President Woodrow Wilson established the first national Mother’s Day holiday to celebrate America’s mothers in 1914.

Many have pointed the finger of blame at the US for commercialising the affair and changing the name from Mothering Sunday to Mother’s Day in Britain.

How did it start?

American social activist Anna Jarvis (1864-1948), given the fitting title of the "Mother of Mother's Day", campaigned for an official day to honour mothers in the US.

After her mother's death, Ms Jarvis dedicated her life to the creation of the day, and the likes of Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg have continued with calls for better paid maternity leave for single mothers on Mother's Day.

However, Ms Jarvis was critical of what the day became, saying "I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit."

Japan took it up in May 1932, after 19 years of observance by Christians, reflecting the wide reach of Mother’s Day internationally.

So who's celebrating it today?

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Aruba

Australia

Austria

Bahamas

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belgium

Belize

Bermuda

Bhutan

Bonaire

Botswana

Brazil

Brunei

Canada

Cambodia

Chile

China

Colombia

Croatia

Cuba

Curaçao

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

ominica

Ecuador

Estonia

Ethiopia

Fiji

Finland

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Grenada

Guyana

Honduras

Hong Kong

Iceland

India

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

Kenya

Latvia

Liberia

Liechtenstein

Macau

Malaysia

Malta

Myanmar

Namibia

Netherlands

New Zealand

Pakistan

Papua New Guinea

Peru

Philippines

Puerto Rico

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa

Singapore

Sint Maarten

Slovakia

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Suriname

Switzerland

Taiwan

Tanzania

Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkey

Uganda

Ukraine

United States

Uruguay

Vietnam

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe