Why does Mother's Day always fall on a Sunday?

Mother's Day is intentionally set on a Sunday so that more people can celebrate with their families, since Sunday is a day many have off from work or school.

Can Mother's Day or Father's Day ever be on a different day of the week?

No. In the United States, both holidays are defined as a specific Sunday each year. Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May, and Father's Day is the third Sunday of June.

What is the earliest and latest possible date for Mother's Day?

Mother's Day can be as early as May 8 and as late as May 14. This is because the second Sunday of May can fall on any of these dates depending on the calendar.

Is Father's Day a federal holiday?

No, Father's Day is not a federal holiday. It is a national observance, but government offices, banks, and post offices remain open on that day (except that they are closed on Sunday anyway).

Mother's Day and Father's Day 2027: Dates and Rules

Mother's Day 2027 is Sunday, May 9. Father's Day 2027 is Sunday, June 20. Both holidays always land on a Sunday in the United States, but they follow different rules to determine which one. Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May. Father's Day is the third Sunday of June. Neither is a federal holiday, so they stay off government lists, yet they are marked almost everywhere. Below are the 2026 and 2027 dates, the rules behind each one, and a note on the origins and on countries that use different dates.

Mother's Day 2027 Date and Rule

Find the Second Sunday in May

Mother's Day 2027 is Sunday, May 9. In 2026, it was Sunday, May 10. The rule in the United States never changes: it is always the second Sunday in May. To find the date yourself, open a May calendar. The first Sunday that appears is the first Sunday. Count to the next one. That is the second Sunday. That day is Mother's Day.

In May 2027, the first Sunday is May 2, so the second Sunday is May 9. In May 2026, the first Sunday was May 3, so the second Sunday was May 10.

Father's Day 2027 Date and Rule

Count to the Third Sunday in June

Father's Day 2027 is Sunday, June 20. In 2026, it was Sunday, June 21. The rule is the third Sunday in June. The method matches Mother's Day, but you count to the third Sunday instead of the second.

In June 2027, the first Sunday is June 6, the second is June 13, and the third is June 20. In June 2026, the first Sunday was June 7, the second was June 14, and the third was June 21.

The Mother's Day Date Rule Explained

The rule is a fixed weekday rule: the second Sunday of May. The calendar date shifts each year, ranging from May 8 to May 14. Because it always falls on a Sunday, the day of the week stays put. Only the number changes. This rule has been in place since the early 20th century.

How to Find the Second Sunday

Find the second Sunday of any month with these steps:

Find the first day of the month on a calendar.
Locate the first Sunday that appears in that month.
Add 7 days to that date. That gives you the second Sunday.

This works for any month and any year. For Mother's Day, apply it to May.

The Father's Day Date Rule Explained

The Father's Day rule is the third Sunday of June. The date moves each year, ranging from June 15 to June 21. It always lands on a Sunday. This rule was set when the holiday became a permanent national observance.

How to Find the Third Sunday

To find the third Sunday of a month:

Find the first Sunday of the month.
Add 7 days to get the second Sunday.
Add another 7 days to get the third Sunday.

For Father's Day, apply this to June. In 2027, the third Sunday is June 20.

Origins of Mother's Day and Father's Day

A Proclamation in 1914

Mother's Day became a national observance in the United States in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it a day to honor mothers. The holiday grew from earlier efforts by Anna Jarvis, who campaigned for a day to recognize mothers after her own mother's death. The second Sunday in May was chosen as the official date.

Signed into Law in 1972

Father's Day took longer. It was first celebrated in Spokane, Washington, after Sonora Smart Dodd proposed the idea. Not until 1972 did President Richard Nixon sign a law making Father's Day a permanent national observance, set for the third Sunday in June.

Other Countries Use Different Dates

Not all countries celebrate on the same dates as the United States. The United Kingdom keeps Mothering Sunday, a different holiday. It falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter Sunday. That places it in March or April, depending on Easter.

Many other countries have their own traditions. Some celebrate Mother's Day in March, others in May or even December. Father's Day is observed on different dates around the world as well. Before you send greetings or gifts to someone in another country, check the local date for that country.

Not Federal Holidays, but Widely Observed

Neither Mother's Day nor Father's Day is a federal holiday. Federal holidays close government offices, banks, and post offices. Because both holidays always fall on a Sunday, many people already have the day off. Schools are closed on Sundays as well. Some businesses stay open, and mail is not delivered on Sundays anyway. The holidays are observed in a cultural sense, with families gathering for meals, giving gifts, or sending cards.

Mark these dates on a printable calendar. Free calendars for this year, last year, and next year, with US holidays noted, are available at printablecalendar2018.org.