When is Dia de Las Madres Celebrated in Latin America?

Many of our readers believe today, May 10th, is the official ‘Dia de Las Madres’ day but that is only if you live in El Salvador, Guatemala or Mexico.  In Mexico the day is such a grand occasion that many government offices are closed. 

Dia de las Madres in these three countries is always on May 10th versus the American’s Mother’s Day that is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May.  Much of Latin America started officially celebrating Dia de las Madres in the 1920’s while in the U.S. Mother’s Day was officially proclaimed in 1870.

Spain celebrates their Mother’s Day on the first Sunday of May while Paraguay celebrates on May 15 and Bolivia celebrates on May 27th regardless of what day it falls on.  Dia de la Madras is celebrated toward the end of the May month for Dominican Republic (Last Sunday in May) and Nicaragua (May 30th).

The outlier Latin American countries that celebrate Dia de las Madres outside the month of May are: Costa Rica (August 15th which coincides with Mother Mary’s Assumption Day), Argentina (third Sunday in October) and Panama (December 8 which coincides with Feast of the Immaculate Conception).

The majority of Latin American and European countries celebrate their Mothers on the second Sunday of May which is when the U.S. also celebrates.  This month Mother’s Day falls on May 12, 2013. 

The following Latin America countries will celebrate Dia de las Madres along with the U.S’ Mother’s Day.:

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Feliz Dia de las Madres and Happy Mother’s Day to all our mamas.

Published in Latino Daily News