Mother's day dates worldwide

 UK - March

Mother's Day in 2024 was March 10th. But next year, 2025 is a different day. It's always in march and on a Sunday, 4th Sunday in Lent, moving around linked to Easter.

If you are in or off to the UAE they have mother's Day on March 21st this year.

USA - May

You can have another go at it in May. In the USA and Canada. Down under in New Zealand. South Africa. Brazil.

In the USA, Mother's day was started by Anna Jarvis in mmory of her mother. The places associated with her are the Methodist church where the Mother's Day was first celebrated, and the birthplace of Anna which is on the US national register of Hisstoric places.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day_(2016_film)

Please share links to your favoure posts from my blog.

Mother's Day, UK

 

Mother's Day card from my son to me in 2024. March 1Oth. Sunday. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Mother's Day in the UK, is mothering Sunday, a different day to mother's day in the USA. For Canada and other countries, check the dates. 

there\s a heartrending Country song, and a myth, about, a man, a trucker, who goes into a shop to send flowers to his mother. A little boy wants to buy flowers for his mother, but is short of the sum needed, so the trucker pays the sum needed for the flowers. He follows the child to see the boy deliver the flowers to his mother (hoping to see the happy lady). But the little boy goes to the local cemetery and places the flowers on the grave. The trucker is so moved that he takes his own flowers and instead of taking them to the post office, drivers a hundred miles to deliver them in person.

I'm saving my card for next year.

If you didn't get what you wanted on mother's day, you can cut yourself a flower, cut up an old card, or change the date. Or celebrate on another country's mother's day. Or just make every day, mother's day.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

Five Ways To VideoCall Family on a Mobile Phone

Did you miss a get together on a birthday or mother's day?

Here's what you can do to catch up. The most efficient way is to call the same time each week, or the same time each day, so you don't play yo-yo with missed calls. When we shared a flat with my husband's ex-colleague, he used to phone from Singapore to Australia or New Zealand to speak to his children every week on Sunday.

When I lived in the USA we phoned my parents in the UK from Washington DC in the evening. We only had one hour when it was convenient in both countries.

Five Video Conferencing Systems
(Alphabetically)

Facebook Messenger
Google Duo
Skype
WhatsApp
Zoom

Useful Websites
BBC guide to video calling family
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51968122

UK Mother's Day - 31st March 2019

For Mother's Day in the UK, Cafe Rouge restaurant branches are offering free Prosecco for mother.

Mother's Day takes place on a different day in the USA and some other countries.

If you were planning on a meal out, and hadn't realised the date was mother's day, you might find that your favourite restaurant is fully booked. In London valentine's Day and Mother's Day and Christmas Day and New Year's Eve are times when you have to plan in advance, and consider the costs.

Prices might be higher. Or you might get free glasses of alcohol (usually with a non-alcoholic alternative).

Cafe Rouge\s mailing to me included the note that mother's day may be a sensitive time for many (presumably if your mother is no longer alive, or if your parents divorced and you are with father, or if Mother has just had a miscarriage or lost a child). The Cafe Rouge mailing asks if I want to be removed from the mailing to let them know. 

I don't have a mother. But I am a mother. Regardless, I like to be kept informed, so that I know when restaurants are likely to be booked.

The other reason to note mother's Day, is that many special offers are available from shops and supermarkets.

Singapore
Singapore's Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Sunday 12th May, 2019.

Useful Websites

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Lunch time in London On Mother's Day - traffic - and where else in the world is celebrating?

Problem
My family in London wanted to drive from Pinner via Harrow to Wembley. No luck. Traffic solid. People ahead were turning back.

Answer
My family thought - they are right. Turn around. The next junction is blocked and the next, as far as we could see. Wembley could be worse.

Family were forced to walk up and down the nearest High street with on street parking and a paid for car park. The pub was full.

Across the road was B and K. They have known us for years and we have known them for years.

In we go. the moral is, go to a place you know, if you are prepared to eat fast, and get a table leftover from first sitting before second sitting arrives.

We asked the girl serving why they were so busy. She confirmed what we thought:
"It's a Sunday lunch time and Mother's Day and a fine day after the snow."

Meanwhile, the mobile texts are going back and forth. Mothering Sunday started as a Christian religious holiday but with the aid of the Americans has morphed into a commercial event for people of all religions and none. (As they say - any excuse for a party.)

Meanwhile, some are out entertaining mother, others are directing friends on their mobile phones.
"How about your grandmothers? Send an email or a text!"
Back comes the message: 'No need. It's not mothering Sunday in America and it's not celebrated in Israel.'

Meanwhile, in London, the traffic is clearing. But if you missed mtoehr's day lunch in London, hotels are still offering tea or dinner. Tea-time is ahead and evening dinner for some mothers means maybe more traffic is still to come.

If you have a mother, stepmother, grandmother or mother-in-law in the USA you haven't missed the date. It is still to come. In the month of May.

My memory aid: March in England but maybe May in the USA. If you are in the USA, just remember: Mother's Day Is In May.

 See next post.

Useful Websites
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/mothering-sunday (UK)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Mother's Day - Fully booked? What other options?

Update 2026, May. You can still dine at Gilbert's Restaurant in Grimsdyke Hotel in Old Redding, and Sea Pebbles for fish and chips in Hatch End, and Café Rouge restaurants in London.  Mr Alfredo Fellini's latest restaurant is Midori. For nostalgic reasons, I leave this old post with writeups of the long gone and lamented for their decor as well as wonderful food m Hawtrey's restaurant at the Barn Hotel in Ruislip and Osteria Modigliani in Pinner..

Problem
I did a bit of ringing around for somebody who wanted to invite his mother for mother's day lunch in London, England.

I found
Grimsdyke Hotel
Tel
£39 per person lunch fully booked. They are also doing tea and dinner.

The Barn Hotel, Hawtrey's restaurant, mother day lunch at £38.95 per person. Full booked.
Tel: 01895 636057.

As they say of vineyards, the time to plant is twenty years ago. The time to book mother's day lunch is not the night before. It's getting like the Edinburgh Festival. You have to book for the following year.

My other favourites:
HATCH END, PINNER & BUSHEY HEATH
Pinner

Osteria Modigliani

New On The Block
Porta Grande, Italian cuisine (took over from Fellini)
www.portagrande.co.uk
 tel:0208 428 4359.
The Steak Restaurant, 316 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, HA5 4HR, tel 0208 421 2878.

Old On The Block
Black Pepper, 461 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End HA5 4JA.
http://www.blackpepperrestaurant.co.uk/index.php?page=home
'At the heart of Hatch End', says their website, neatly alliterative. I've had great meals here many times, over the years.

Sea Pebbles, 352 Uxbridge Road, Hatch End, Pinner HA5 4HR. tel 0208 428 0203.
seapebbles.co.uk
Chips is what they are famous for. (For Americans, British chips are like French fries but more potato. Not potato crisps.)
Sea Pebbles has another branch at 114-116 High Road, Bushey Heath WD23 1GE but I think the Hatch End branch is bigger and better atmosphere and great murals.
They ran an ad in Optima saying @5% off food NOT drinks, last Monday of the month. Next ones would be March 26th, and April 23rd, which is St George's Day, England's national day and Shakespeare's birthday, but Sea Pebbles ad said their last day of the month offer includes bank holidays.

Café Rouge, Pinner

With two family birthdays in the month of March I get to see vouchers for Prosecco which last up to 6 weeks from the birthday, which is great, as it's hard for us to get all the family in one country at one time.
www.caferouge.com
French style chain with 120 restaurants across the UK, in London at Pinner, Ruislip and many more. Large venues so you have a higher chance of getting a table. The Ruislip branch has a parking area behind the restaurant.
Huge menu. Everybody is bound to see something they like.

If you can't get into an upmarket, gourmet restaurant, you could opt for a cheap meal out try a pub or a carvery. However, be prepared for a race track of children.

People may complain that you should treat mother well every day of the year, or for a meal out every Sunday, but the commercialisation of Mother's Day seems to be a great success for restaurants.

If all else fails, treat mother on Monday or Tuesday or next week. But those who are at work, and have the funds to take mother out for a meal would prefer a Sunday, so maybe next year.

Useful Websites
UK wide : www.caferouge.com

http://www.blackpepperrestaurant.co.uk/index.php?page=home
www.caferouge.com

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g7380842-d1415050-Reviews-Friends_Restaurant-Pinner_Greater_London_England.html
www.portagrande.co.uk
seapebbles.co.uk
thesteakrestaurant.com
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1869831-d2358851-Reviews-Water_s_Edge_Stonehouse_Pizza_Carvery-Ruislip_Greater_London_England.html
http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/marvellous-meal-at-osteria-modigliani.html

REGIONAL
Worth a trip:
http://www.theharrowatlittlebedwyn.com
High price high quality Michelin restaurant. Get on their mailing list for reduced price meals and special offers for your special occasions.

Stay overnight with a meal:
http://www.huntsbridge.com/index.php?pageid=13
Grimsdyke Hotel
The Barn Hotel

Author
Angela Lansbury

Mother's Day March 10-11th; order cards or book meals and holidays

Mother's Day Squircle cake from Mrs Fields, photo in Flickr by Gareth Simpson from Wikipedia

Problem
What shall we do for mother's day? When is it?

Answer
In the UK, Mother's day this year, 2018 is the weekend of March 10th-11th.

However, Mothering Sunday in the USA is the second Sunday in May. By travelling to another country you can celebrate twice!

(Or anybody without a mother could avoid it altogether.)

If you forget mother's day in the UK, or you and mother are in different countries, you could take a trip to the USA and celebrate Mothering Sunday there in May.

If you wish to celebrate, consider:

Cards - from supermarkets or online incorporating your family photo
Flowers
A pot plant
A cake - for personalised cakes check how long in advance you must order
Breakfast
Lunch
Tea
Dinner
Day out - eg spa break
Weekend away

An email.

Look at your local restaurants to see their offers.

Useful Websites:
https://www.facebook.com/bonnemamanuk/ Competition (and breakfast idea)
https://www.facebook.com/vintageinns Mothers Day meals at venues
https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/mothering-sunday
https://www.cardfactory.co.uk/cards/mothers-day-cards
https://www.notonthehighstreet.com
https://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/mothers-day-gifts
https://www.mrsfields.com/gifts/Round-Personalized-Cookie-Cake
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/shop/browse/entertaining/cakes_and_biscuits/personalised_cakes?
https://www.spabreaks.com/categories/mothers-day

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

CALENDAR 2018: New Year, Valentine's, Remembrance Day, Carnival, Xmas and more

Problem
I read about events after they have started and it's too late to go. 

Answer
For next year, you and I have a calendar, listing the main holiday dates and tourist events and celebrations.

A quick reminder of October - Dec 2017.
2017 LAST QUARTER
OCT 13-15 Chocolate Show, Olympia, London, England.
Oct 31 Halloween.

NOVEMBER
Nov 5 Guy Fawkes Night (UK, especially Lewes, Sussex. Remembers Parliament saved from Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot.) Fireworks all over UK, public displays. Buy tickets.

DECEMBER
Dec 22 El Gordo, big prize of the national lottery, seen on TV, announced by a choir of children.
Dec 24 Christmas Eve. Many offices and shops close lunch time.
Dec 25 Christmas Day.
Dec 26 Boxing Day UK. Sales start in shops and online.
Dec 31 New Year's Eve Worldwide, starting Australia, then Europe, then Americas. Public Fireworks in London. Buy tickets and souvenirs. Watch on TV.

CALENDAR 2018

JANUARY

January 1st  New Year's Day Parade, California, USA. Morning Concert and ballet from Vienna, Austria, televised in Europe.

January Sales. 

Jan 5th Three Kings. 

Jan 25th Burns Night . 

Jan 27th Holocaust Day. 

and Carnival in Venice Italy.

FEBRUARY: 

Chocolate month. 

Feb 13 Pancake Day. 

Feb 14 Valentine’s Day. 

MARCH

March 1st St David's Day, Wales. 

March 11 Mother's Day UK.

March 17 St Patrick's Day, Ireland. 

March 23 St George’s Day, England.

March 24 Oxford and Cambridge Boat race. 

March 30 Easter Good Friday. 

APRIL

April 1st Fools Day. Easter Sunday.

April 2 Easter Monday.

April 23 St George’s Day, England.

April 25 ANZAC Day, Australia and New Zealand.

MAY

May 1st May Day. 

JUNE

June 17 Father's Day.

JULY

July 2-15, 2018, Wimbledon. 

AUGUST

August 3-11 Eisteddfod music festival, Cardiff, Wales. 

Aug 3-25 Edinburgh Tattoo, Scotland.
Aug 9-19 Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Bristol, UK. 

Aug 22-23 Battle of the flowers, Jersey, British Channel Islands. 

SEPTEMBER 

Oktoberfest, beer tents in Munich, Germany.

OCTOBER

Oct 12-21 Eurochocolate Exhibition, free entry, Perugia, Umbria, Italy. (Annual but dates vary.)

2018 Notting Hill Carnival will begin at 09:00 on

Sunday

,

26 August

and ends at 08:00 on

Monday

,

27 August

All times are in United Kingdom Time.

Oct 31 Halloween. 

NOVEMBER

Nov 5th Guy Fawkes. 

Nov 11th Remembrance Day. 

Chocolate week and Chocolate Show, UK.

International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

DECEMBER

Dec 24 Xmas Eve. 

Dec 25 Xmas. 

Dec 26 Boxing Day. 

Dec 31 New Year's Eve. 

******************************************
More Information From:
EVENTS
www.thechocolateshow.co.uk

TOURIST BOARDS / INFORMATION
http://www.antor.com (Association of National Tourist Organizations.)
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk
www.visitbritain.org
https://www.wikipedia.org
https://wikitravel.org/en/Main_Page

COMMERCIAL SITES / BOOKINGS
https://www.booking.com/index.en
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk

Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer.

Mothering Sunday UK is Sunday 26 March 2017

Problem
When is Mothering Sunday? It varies year to year, and Mother's Day in America is not the same as the UK's Mothering Sunday.

Answer
How do I know that Mothering Sunday in the UK will be Sunday 26th March in 2017? Because restaurants are sending me offers by email.

Stories
I heard from the cafe at Cobbs Farm shop in England.

Tips
Enter important dates in your calendar on your laptop or mobile phone. Add a second date a week or more earlier to remind yourself to book a lunch, a card, or flower delivery, or book a last minute holiday.
http://www.cobbsfarmshop.co.uk/events.asp?contentID=206

Last Minute Cards
Need a card? 123 Greetings online, very handy if you forget and need to send something instantly. I particularly like the Happy Birthday with animation and c cappella (like a Barber Shop quartet - four male voice with no accompaniment).
http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/birthday_fun/happy_birthday_song_a_cappella.html
I also liked the card called Beak Boys reminiscent of the Beach Boys.
http://www.123greetings.com/birthday/happy_birthday/the_beak_boys_birthday_song.html

You can send a birthday or anniversary e-card with a customised message such as the venue for the lunch or a weekend away or holiday. Just tell the recipient to keep the date or dates free, and say details will be in the card.
http://www.lastminute.com
You can set the card up to be delivered at the right time, local time for the recipient, even if you are on a different time zone.

More Lunches
http://cinnamonclub.com/mothering-sunday-2017/ Indian food. Upmarket. See my previous review of this restaurant on this blog and on TripAdvisor.


Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Mother's Day Flowers - For Next weekend

March is a jolly month. march is Mother's Day month. Every florist has flowers and so do the supermarkets and the newsagents have cards but you can get them in one place, or add cards to your garden flowers, or mix up a cuddly toy with bunch of flowers and a card, home grown flowers with a shop bought card, or shop bought flowers with a home made or home printed card, or cards sent in from others by email to add to your big bouquet. Or get the lot in one place. Yes, it's a commercial event but why not.

Here's a local florist in Hatch End. Bella, always chatty and with a smile.

Mother's Day is Sunday but many restaurants are booked on Saturday. Some close Saturday lunch and other close Sunday lunch. So you could have a restaurant meal, or a meal at home with flowers, or both. Maybe it's time we renamed it Mother's Weekend. The hotels are starting to wise up to the idea that you can offer a restaurant meal with champagne or rose wine, and an overnight stay. They've all had practise on Valentine's Day. So have we, the customers. 

The festivals brighten up the High Street.

A bouquet and a balloon.

Heart shape hangings.

A framed picture and a planter pot of bulbs and a heart shaped balloon. Bella's Blooms and Bella's balloons.

Colours, red, pink, purple.

Lots of pretty colourful flowers. Bella says prices go up in retail shops because the (wholesale) markets put their prices up. She also sells cards.

I like flowers which smell good as well as looking good.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Mother's Day Dinner and Lunches

Mother's day dinner and lunch offers are available for March 5th and March 6th, 2016.

For Christmas each country has its own favourite recipes. For valentine's day the favourites, as for Xmas and Easter are champagne, red flowers and chocolates, plus hearts.

For mother's day, a meal out, so she doesn't have to cook, nor do the washing up.

Add a home made card with a picture of mother and the family, especially children. Take a photo at the event.

Book early to be sure of a place, and special offers. Watch out for being charged extra just because it's mother's day.

Note that mother's day in England is different date from Mother's day in the USA.

Miller and Carter are offering free champagne with steak. I would have thought that steak was more for Father's Day, but I'm sure some people will like it. Free Champagne - who's driving?
https://www.millerandcarter.co.uk/restaurants/london/millerandcarterruislip/offers/mothers-day-offer

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Mother's Day in the USA, UK, Singapore, Australia and Canada

Mother's Day in the UK differs from other countries. In the UK it is three weeks before Easter Sunday.

Mother's Day in the USA has set a precedent and the same date is celebrated in several other countries. Mother's day is a Sunday, the second Sunday in May, so the date varies with the year. Because of the shift in the days around the world if you are phoning your mother from overseas note the time shift.

It was already Mother's Day in Australia as seen on TV when my friends in Singapore tried to book a restaurant and found restaurants were full. A taxi driver told them that because restaurants were fully booked, or charging higher mother day special prices, people who normally went out for Sunday lunch were going out for Saturday Night dinner instead.

Carnations are the popular flower as gifts in China. In the USA white carnations are preferred.

For the dates each year ahead, or previously, see time and date dot com

Mother's Day occurs on different dates and as a national holiday in some other countries such as Thailand.

If travelling to the USA you can visit the International Mother's Day shrine, in Grafton, West Virginia, commemorating the foundation of mother's day.

Another celebration coming the following month is Father's Day, third Sunday in June in the UK and USA.