If you're already thinking about Mother's Day 2026, it means you care about giving your mom more than a last-minute bouquet. This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10, following the tradition of celebrating on the second Sunday in May. Knowing that now gives you time to plan a Mother’s Day gift that goes deeper than flowers or brunch, one that honors your mom’s stories, the moments that shaped your family, and the wisdom she has gathered over the years.

TLDR:

• Mother's Day 2026 falls on Sunday, May 10 in the USA, always the second Sunday in May.
• Americans spend an average of about $259 celebrating, with experiences gaining ground over material gifts.
• A Storyworth Memoir turns weekly story prompts into a bound book your family treasures for generations.
• The holiday began in 1908 when Anna Jarvis honored her mother with 500 white carnations at church.

When Is Mother's Day 2026 in the USA

Mother's Day 2026 falls on Sunday, May 10. In the United States, Mother's Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday in May, a tradition officially created in 1914. The exact date moves slightly from year to year, depending on how the calendar lines up.

Knowing the date well in advance gives you space to plan something more thoughtful than last-minute flowers or a rushed brunch reservation. You can learn how Storyworth Memoirs work and turn this year’s gift into a fun and easy project that will last throughout all twelve months of the year. Whether you are organizing a family gathering, coordinating with siblings, or designing something deeply personal, early planning opens up more meaningful options.

At Storyworth, we believe the most memorable Mother’s Day gifts are those that honor your mom’s life story. Storyworth Memoirs gives your mom a year of weekly story prompts that become a beautiful keepsake book filled with her memories, stories, and photos. It is a gift that keeps unfolding throughout the year and becomes something your whole family will treasure for generations.

The Origins of Mother's Day: Anna Jarvis and Her Mother's Dream

Anna Jarvis created Mother's Day after her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died in 1905. Years earlier, Ann had hoped someone would create a Memorial Day to recognize mothers' sacrifices.

Anna fulfilled that wish. On May 10, 1908, she organized the first official Mother's Day celebration at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. She sent 500 white carnations, her mother's favorite flower, for attendees to wear in honor of their mothers.

The idea spread quickly. Within six years, the observance grew from a single church service into a national holiday. President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation in 1914 naming the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.

What began as one daughter’s tribute became a day for many to honor the women who shaped their lives. That story-driven origin reminds us that the most meaningful ways to celebrate are those that preserve our mothers’ unique stories and legacies.

How Americans Celebrate Mother's Day Today

Mother's Day ranks as the third most popular holiday in America after Christmas and Independence Day, with about 83% of U.S. adults celebrating each year. Total spending reached an estimated $34.1 billion in 2025, and the average person spent about $259.04. For a gift that lasts far beyond the day itself, you can review our Storyworth pricing options.

Traditional celebrations focus on flowers, greeting cards, jewelry, and Mother’s Day brunch. Many restaurants book up weeks ahead as families plan special meals together.

Celebration habits are changing as more families now focus on experiences over items. Weekend getaways, spa days, and intentional time together are gaining ground over purely material gifts. The most meaningful trend is a growing interest in personal gifts that reflect each family’s unique relationships.

At Storyworth, we see this every day. Storyworth Memoirs offers something different: a year of reflection and storytelling that ends in a permanent family keepsake. Your mom receives weekly story prompts, and her responses become a beautifully bound book your whole family can cherish.

Mother's Day Around the World: Different Dates, Shared Love

While many countries celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May, the date varies worldwide based on cultural traditions and history.

In the United Kingdom, Mothering Sunday falls on March 15, 2026, the fourth Sunday of Lent. This tradition dates back to the 16th century, when people returned to their "mother church" for a special service. Mexico celebrates on May 10 every year, regardless of the day of the week. Many Arab countries observe Mother's Day on March 21, the first day of spring, to symbolize renewal and life.

Some countries connect the celebration to religious calendars, while others choose dates that honor women who championed mothers’ rights in their communities. Despite these differences, the purpose is the same: honoring the women who raised us and preserving their stories across generations.

Meaningful Mother's Day Gift Ideas Beyond the Traditional

The best Mother’s Day gifts show that you paid attention to what matters most to your mom. Shared experiences create memories that last far longer than most things. Cooking classes where you learn her signature recipes, concerts featuring her favorite artists, or weekend trips to places she has mentioned all become stories you will retell together.

Personalized keepsakes honor her unique path. Custom photo albums organized by life chapters can reflect her story through images. Handmade items carry special meaning because they reflect your time and care. Collecting her handwritten recipe cards into a bound book preserves her cooking traditions. Jewelry engraved with coordinates of important locations or family dates turns everyday wear into an heirloom. For more inspiration on meaningful gifts for parents who have everything, see how other families celebrate.

The most treasured gifts protect what might otherwise fade: her voice, her memories, and her perspective on the moments that shaped your family. You can see how to use Storyworth Memoirs to capture these stories. Storyworth Memoirs prompts your mom with weekly questions throughout the year and turns her responses into a professionally printed keepsake book your family can revisit for decades.

Creating Lasting Memories Through Storytelling This Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is an ideal time to give a gift that continues long after the second Sunday in May. Instead of something that wilts or gets tucked away, you can help your mom preserve the stories, insights, and memories that shaped your family.

At Storyworth, we have helped families preserve over 35 million stories since 2013. Storyworth Memoirs is simple to use: your mom receives weekly story prompts by email throughout the year. She can respond by replying to the email (no login required), typing on the website, or recording her answers over the phone. Phone responses are transcribed in her own words, keeping her natural voice on the page.

Our curated question library includes prompts like "What is one of your favorite memories of your mother?" and "What are some of your fondest Christmas memories?" Browse a sample of our questions to see some of the over 500 questions you could choose to ask your mother. You and other family members can also write your own questions and add custom questions specific to her life using Magic Questions, our personalized question tool.

Your mother can share her stories in writing over email or on our website, or voice record them over the phone. She can also add unlimited color photos to each story.

After a year of storytelling, we print everything in a beautifully bound hardcover book that your whole family can treasure. Stories and photos that might have been lost stay preserved and ready to be passed down.

Final Thoughts on Honoring Your Mother

Planning ahead for Mother’s Day 2026 gives you the chance to move beyond last-minute presents and offer something deeply personal. A Mother’s Day gift that collects your mom’s stories and memories grows more valuable with every passing year. You can purchase Storyworth Memoirs for her today and schedule a personalized gift message to arrive in her email inbox on Mother's Day morning. It's a gift that ensures her voice and experiences are preserved in a keepsake your family will return to again and again.

Another option is to create a Storyworth Celebration book for her as a group gift from everyone in her life. Easily invite family and friends to contribute messages, photos, and stories about your mother, then publish them all in a hardcover book to give her on Mother's Day.

FAQ

When exactly is Mother's Day 2026 in the United States?

Mother's Day 2026 falls on Sunday, May 10, 2026. In the United States, Mother's Day is always celebrated on the second Sunday in May, so the exact date changes slightly each year.

How can I give my mom a gift that preserves her stories and memories?

Storyworth Memoirs gives your mom weekly story prompts for a full year that she can answer by email, on the website, or by phone call. After a year of storytelling, her responses are printed into a beautifully bound hardcover book your whole family can treasure.

What are some meaningful alternatives to traditional Mother's Day flowers and brunch?

Consider gifts that create lasting memories, such as cooking classes to learn her recipes, weekend trips to places she has mentioned, or personalized keepsakes like a custom photo album documenting her life story. The most meaningful gifts protect her voice, memories, and perspective on the moments that shaped your family.

Why did Anna Jarvis create Mother's Day?

Anna Jarvis created Mother's Day to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had hoped for a day recognizing mothers’ sacrifices. On May 10, 1908, Anna organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, and sent 500 white carnations for attendees to wear.

How do other countries celebrate Mother's Day on different dates?

While many countries celebrate on the second Sunday in May, dates vary worldwide. The United Kingdom observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent (March 15, 2026), Mexico celebrates on May 10 every year, and many Arab countries mark Mother's Day on March 21, the first day of spring.