Mother’s Day in Spain, or Día de la Madre, is celebrated on the first Sunday of May each year. This means, unlike Father’s Day in Spain, which is always on 19th March, Mother’s Day varies each year. Only a few countries, including Portugal and Hungary, celebrate Mother's Day on the same day as Spain, whereas most others worldwide mark it on the second Sunday of May. In 2025, Mother’s Day in Spain falls on the 4th of May.
Mother's Day: traditions and gifts
The special day holds significant importance in Spain, possibly more so than in countries like the UK, as Spaniards often live with their parents until their mid-twenties or even later.
Mother’s Day is not a public holiday in Spain, but many Spanish families treat it as a long weekend since it falls on a Sunday and is often close to the May 1st bank holiday. Mother’s Day traditions in Spain are very similar to those in other countries, although giving greeting cards like in English-speaking countries is less common. Mothers often receive flowers and personalised gifts, as well as perfume or chocolates. Given the close-knit nature of Spanish families, grandmothers are also celebrated and pampered on the day.
Mother's Day: food
Eating together plays a central role in Mother’s Day celebrations in Spain, with many restaurants fully booked for family lunches where the mother is treated. Some families cook a big meal at home instead, preparing traditional dishes like paella or making the mother’s favourite meal. Unlike in some countries where Mother's Day has become heavily commercialised, in Spain, the focus remains on family gatherings and gestures of love and gratitude.
Why does Spain celebrate Mother's Day on a different day?
Mother’s Day was originally celebrated on the 8th of December to coincide with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the Virgin Mary's conception without original sin. However, this all changed when, in 1965, Spain moved Mother's Day to May. This change is said to be for several reasons.
Influence from the US
Some argue the change of date is partly due to the influence of the United States and the origins of its Mother’s Day celebration. The idea of Mother's Day in the US is rooted in the Civil War when a woman called Ann Jarvis started Mother’s “Day Work Clubs” to educate young mothers on sanitation during the war. After her passing, Javis’s daughter campaigned for a national Mother's Day to honour her and mothers nationwide. It was eventually established on the second Sunday in May, a tradition that many countries later adopted.
Religious reasons
Spain, however, celebrates Mother’s Day on the first Sunday in May, aligning it with the beginning of the Mes de María, or Month of Mary. It also coincides with the Catholic celebration, the May Crosses Festival. This has given the celebration more cultural and religious meaning, rather than resulting in just a commercial celebration.
Ancient roots
However, the origins of Mother’s Day in Spain date back even further. The first known celebrations of motherhood can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome. The Greeks held a spring festival dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many gods in their mythology. In Rome, the festival known as Hilaria was celebrated in honour of Cybele, the goddess of motherhood and nature.
Celebrating the day in May is also fitting as it matches up with the arrival of spring and warmer weather, when flowers are in full bloom.
¡Feliz Dia de la Madre!