This is the date of Mother’s Day 2022 – plus gift and activity ideas

With many of us still getting to grips with 2022, it can be easy to lose track of dates such as Mother’s Day – don’t panic, it hasn’t arrived yet!

You still have plenty of time to figure out what you’d like to do come Mother’s Day – whether you’re stuck thinking about gifts or activity ideas, this article is here to help you.

This is everything you need to know.

In the UK, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday 27 March this year. The date is set by the celebration’s Christian foundation as Mothering Sunday.

You’d be forgiven if you lose track of when Mother’s Day occurs, as it doesn’t always fall on the same date – keep in mind that it always takes place on the fourth Sunday in the festival of Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday.

Around the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on a number of different dates – for example, in Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria and Uzbekistan, Mother’s Day is celebrated on 8 March, in conjunction with International Women’s Day.

In Egypt, Lebanon and Qatar, it’s celebrated on 21 March, which is the same date as the spring equinox. 

In Panama, Mother’s Day is celebrated on 8 December, which is the same date as Immaculate Conception Day, which celebrates the life and immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.

It should be noted that in the UK, we celebrate Mothering Sunday, rather than Mother’s Day, with the “mothering” side of things bearing no connection to mums in the way that we celebrate it today.

Its origins trace back to the Middle Ages, when children who had left their families in order to work in domestic service were allowed to return to their home, or “mother”, church.

As the years went by, the occasion took on a more celebratory tone, with traditions emerging that allowed the fasting rules of Lent to be relaxed, allowing hungry revellers to enjoy a long-awaited feast.

To pinpoint the transformation of the day from that of a church related occasion to what we know now, one only needs to look at America.

The American festival of Mother’s Day, which is held later in the year across the pond and which also bears no religious connotations, first came around in 1907 by Anna Jarvis.

Jarvis had begun her campaign to make Mother’s Day a recognised holiday in 1905, the same year her mother died. Jarvis’ mother, Anne Reeves Jarvis, had been a peace activist who had cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War.

With Christmas having only just gotten out of the way, it can be a little tricky sometimes to think of a nice gift that you can get for Mother’s Day.

If you’re thinking of something along the lines of jewellery, why not go for something which also incorporates her gemstone for her birth month?

If your mother is keen on flowers, a flower subscription could be right up her alley – for example, the Bloom and Wild flower gift subscription will see its recipient sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers for a set amount of time – either three, six or 12 months – or for as long as you fancy.

Should your mother be a fan of wine more than flowers then fear not – there are plenty of wine subscription boxes to choose from instead. Savage Wines have subscription boxes starting at £29.95, and you can choose to receive between two and 12 bottles per month, and whether you want red or white – or both.

At the end of the day, if you’re truly stumped for ideas, you can’t go wrong with a nice perfume.

When it comes to cards, there are a couple different routes you can go down, such as the handmade, DIY option, or a personalised one from a website, for example.

If you’re thinking that a homemade card might be the one for you, there are loads of YouTube tutorials you can follow to create something really special, such as:

There are lots of different things you can do to celebrate Mother’s Day with your mum.

To kick off the day, breakfast in bed is a classic, whether that means cooking it up yourself or ordering an elaborate breakfast from her favourite restaurant or cafe, it’s sure to be appreciated.

If she has a green thumb, a flower arranging class could be the activity for her – either in person or taking a virtual class together.

Alternatively, perhaps she’s long overdue for a spa day. You could send her to the professionals to get thoroughly pampered, or you could do an at-home spa day, with face masks and manicures.

Afternoon tea is also a very popular Mother’s Day treat, so you can choose to book her in somewhere for the real deal, or you could spend the day putting in the effort to make scones, sandwiches and cakes at home instead.

When it comes down to it, every mother will be different, with different preferences, hobbies and tastes. Take the time to figure out what your mum likes and try to centre an activity around that thing – and don’t be afraid to think outside the box.

Around the UK, Covid-19 restrictions have been relaxed to various degrees, meaning that you should have plenty of options to choose from to celebrate the day with your mum – just make sure and double check that things are open.

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