Mothers Day 2026

For those of us who are lucky enough to still have a mother, or who have a mother who has passed on, we are likely to be aware that Mother’s Day 2026 is on the 15 of March.

Celebrating our cherished maternal parent is a long-standing tradition, and one that has its roots in the distant past.

The fourth Sunday of lent is the traditional point in the calendar that many people in the UK and Ireland hold their annual celebration of their mothers. The date is believed to be linked to the Virgin Mary’s visit from the Archangel Gabriel. Celebration of the visit is commonly on March 25th in the Catholic Feast of Annunciation, although it may be moved depending on where the date occurs in the religious calendar.

In practical terms, many of us make plans to spend time with our mother if they are alive, while those whose mother has passed on may spend time in contemplation of their loved one, and of the time they spent together.

Presenting a mother with flowers is a common gesture when visiting. Some like to have a meal together, often with other family members. This may be at the home of their parent or a restaurant. The place would most likely depend on the parent’s preferences and individual circumstances.

I can imagine that some working mothers might see the preparing of a meal at home to be laborious, especially if they’re the one to prepare it. Going out to eat with family to somewhere they enjoy might be their ideal choice: especially if they enjoy getting dressed up in their best clothes.

Others, such as those who are retired and whose children have all grown up, and long since left home, may see the opportunity to prepare a meal for the children and their families as a chance to relive their former role as a homemaker.

There are many mothers for whom these things are extremely difficult or impossible: perhaps due to their age or physical condition.

Whatever way the day is celebrated, as long as it’s done in a way that communicates love and creates some happiness and joy for a mother, it is time well spent.