Some holidays share a name but not a calendar spot. Mother’s Day, Labor Day/May Day, Teacher’s Day, and Children’s Day can land weeks—or months—apart from country to country. Here’s why the dates differ, how to avoid mix-ups, and the fastest ways to find the right local date every time.

Short answer: identical names, different histories. Nations set holiday dates based on local traditions, laws, calendars, and campaign origins. Once you know the pattern—fixed date, weekday rule, or religious calendar—you can predict or verify the right day quickly.

Why the same holiday name appears on different dates

Holiday names travel well; holiday rules don’t. A few forces shape the disparities:

  • Different origin stories: The U.S. version of a holiday might honor a founder or event, while another country ties it to a workers’ movement, a monarch, or a religious custom.
  • Legal calendars: Parliaments and ministries lock dates into law (often as bank or public holidays), and those laws vary by jurisdiction.
  • Date rules: Some holidays are a fixed date (e.g., May 10), some follow a weekday formula (e.g., second Sunday of May), and others depend on religious calendars (e.g., the Sunday in Lent).
  • International vs. national observances: The UN or UNESCO might name a global observance, while countries maintain their own local date.
  • Regional and linguistic differences: Even when the name is similar (Labor/Labour Day), states or provinces within the same country can pick different dates.

Case studies: Mother’s Day, Labor Day/May Day, Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day

Mother’s Day: one name, three main patterns

Mother’s Day is a classic example of “same name, different date.” It’s celebrated in dozens of countries but on several distinct schedules.

  • Second Sunday in May: United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, South Africa, and many others follow this rule. The U.S. version popularized the modern, secular celebration beginning in the early 20th century.
  • Mothering Sunday (religious calendar): In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the celebration lands on the fourth Sunday in Lent—so it moves each year, typically in March. It began as a Christian observance connected to returning to one’s “mother church.”
  • Fixed or region-specific dates: Mexico celebrates May 10 every year. Many Arab countries mark March 21 (the spring equinox). France celebrates on the last Sunday of May, except when that day coincides with Pentecost; in that case, it moves to the first Sunday in June.

Key takeaway: same sentiment, different rule sets—weekday formula, liturgical calendar, and fixed-date traditions all coexist worldwide.

Labor Day vs. May Day: same theme, different history

Work and workers’ rights are celebrated globally, but the timing splits along historical lines:

  • International Workers’ Day (May Day): May 1 is observed in most countries as a public holiday rooted in labor movements of the late 19th century. Parades, rallies, and cultural events are common.
  • Labor Day in September: The United States and Canada celebrate on the first Monday in September, marking the end of summer and honoring workers with a distinct national origin story.
  • Commonwealth variants: Australia and New Zealand keep the “Labour Day” name but place it on different Mondays that vary by state or country (e.g., different Australian states mark it in March, May, or October; New Zealand observes it on the first Monday in October).
  • United Kingdom: The Early May Bank Holiday—often called May Day—falls on the first Monday in May, emphasizing the spring festival tradition as well as workers’ rights.

Key takeaway: where May 1 carries a strong labor heritage, the date is fixed; where the holiday developed independently, a Monday rule or a different month took hold.

Teacher’s Day: international vs. national choices

Teachers are honored worldwide, but the “correct” date depends on whom you ask:

  • World Teachers’ Day: UNESCO recognizes October 5 as a global observance, widely acknowledged in education circles and observed in many countries.
  • National dates vary: India celebrates September 5 (birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan). China marks September 10. Turkey observes November 24. Thailand honors teachers on January 16. In the United States, appreciation events typically occur during the first full week of May, with a focus on the Tuesday of that week.

Key takeaway: Some countries align with UNESCO’s October 5, while others choose dates tied to national figures or academic calendars.

Children’s Day: a patchwork of traditions

Children’s Day spans several dates because childhood advocacy emerged via different institutions and eras:

  • UN World Children’s Day: November 20 marks the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; it’s the UN’s global day of action for children.
  • International Children’s Day: June 1 is common in parts of Europe, Asia, and Latin America, reflecting mid-20th-century international campaigns.
  • Country-specific dates: Japan and South Korea: May 5; Turkey: April 23 (paired with National Sovereignty Day); Mexico: April 30; Nigeria: May 27. Some countries hold nationwide festivities; others focus on school-based events.

Key takeaway: advocacy milestones, national histories, and school calendars drive local choices. The name may sound universal, but the date almost never is.

How holiday dates are chosen: the rulebook

Once you recognize the rule behind a holiday, you can predict date shifts or confirm them fast.

  • Fixed date (e.g., May 10): Same day every year. Watch out for weekends vs. business closures if you’re planning campaigns or deliveries.
  • Weekday formula (e.g., first Monday in September): Moves within a range of 7 days each year. Useful for creating long weekends (common for public holidays).
  • Religious/movable feasts (e.g., fourth Sunday in Lent): Depend on ecclesiastical calendars. Dates may shift by several weeks year to year, especially around Easter.
  • International observance vs. legal holiday: A UN or UNESCO date may be recognized symbolically while a country maintains its own legal holiday elsewhere on the calendar.
  • Subnational rules: Federal systems (e.g., Australia, Canada) sometimes delegate holiday dates to states or provinces.
  • One-off shifts: Governments occasionally move a holiday for major events (e.g., jubilees, commemorations) or to create a longer weekend.

Planning across borders: practical tips

Managing teams, campaigns, or family celebrations across countries? Use these tactics to stay accurate and respectful.

  • Ask by country, not by name: “When is Mother’s Day in the UK this year?” gets a different answer than “When is Mother’s Day?”
  • Record the rule, not just the date: Add notes like “second Sunday in May” or “first Monday in September”—future you will thank you.
  • Subscribe to official calendars: Add government or central bank holiday feeds to your digital calendar (Google, Outlook, Apple) for each country you work with.
  • Use multiple sources for critical dates: For public holidays that affect payroll, shipping, or customer support, cross-check a government site and a major calendar provider.
  • Plan campaigns locally: If you market in multiple regions, stagger messages around each local date. A single global blast risks being early for some countries and late for others.
  • Time zones matter: A Sunday holiday in one country might still be Saturday in another. Schedule posts and emails by local timezone.
  • Consider business impact: Labor Day/May Day is a public holiday in many countries (offices and banks close). Mother’s Day often isn’t a legal holiday but drives retail and restaurant traffic.
  • Watch language and spelling: Labor vs. Labour Day, Mother’s vs. Mothers Day (some regions omit the apostrophe), Children’s vs. Childrens—mirror local usage where possible.

Fast ways to find the correct local date

When you just need the date—and need it fast—try this:

  • Search smart: Use the query “Holiday name + country + year.” Example: “Mother’s Day UK 2026.” If you’re unsure which version applies, add “UNESCO” or “UN” for international observances.
  • Check government sources first: Ministries of labor, culture, or the prime minister’s office often maintain official holiday lists. Central banks publish banking holiday calendars.
  • Add iCal feeds: Many countries, cities, and school systems publish iCalendar (.ics) files you can subscribe to. Once added, future years update automatically.
  • Look up the rule: If the page says “first Monday in September,” you can compute future dates even if the calendar you’re using stops at this year.
  • Verify last year’s date: If you see that a country celebrated on, say, March 21 last year, and the rule is “fixed date,” you can be confident it repeats unless a new law changes it.

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

  • Mixing up UK and US Mother’s Day: The UK celebrates in March (Mothering Sunday); the US in May. For global campaigns, plan two distinct waves.
  • Assuming May 1 is a workday everywhere: In many countries, May Day is a public holiday; shipments and bank transfers may be delayed.
  • Missing subnational differences: In Australia, “Labour Day” dates vary by state. Don’t rely on a single national date for staffing or payroll.
  • Overlooking religious calendars: Anything tied to Lent, Easter, or other movable feasts can shift widely. Check the current year every time.
  • Confusing international and national days: World Teachers’ Day (Oct 5) is not the same as Teacher’s Day in countries like India (Sep 5) or China (Sep 10).

Examples at a glance

Mother’s Day

  • United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy: second Sunday in May
  • United Kingdom, Ireland: fourth Sunday in Lent (date varies; typically March)
  • Mexico: May 10 (fixed)
  • Many Arab countries: March 21 (fixed)
  • France: last Sunday in May, moved to first Sunday in June if it clashes with Pentecost

Labor/Labour Day and May Day

  • International Workers’ Day: May 1 (most countries)
  • United States, Canada: first Monday in September (Labor Day)
  • Australia: varies by state (commonly in March, May, or October)
  • New Zealand: first Monday in October
  • United Kingdom: Early May Bank Holiday on the first Monday in May

Teacher’s Day

  • World Teachers’ Day: October 5 (UNESCO)
  • India: September 5
  • China: September 10
  • Turkey: November 24
  • Thailand: January 16
  • United States: focus during the first full week of May (often the Tuesday)

Children’s Day

  • UN World Children’s Day: November 20
  • International Children’s Day: June 1 (widespread in Europe/Asia)
  • Japan and South Korea: May 5
  • Turkey: April 23
  • Mexico: April 30
  • Nigeria: May 27

Bottom line

Same name, different date isn’t a mistake—it’s history in action. A holiday’s timing reflects who created it, why it mattered at the time, and how lawmakers chose to place it on the calendar. Learn the rule behind each name, confirm with an official source, and plan region by region. You’ll be on time everywhere, every year.

FAQ

Why doesn’t Mother’s Day fall on the same date worldwide?

Different origins and date rules. The U.S. tradition anchors Mother’s Day to the second Sunday in May. The UK observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday in Lent (a religious calendar), and countries like Mexico fix it to May 10. Same idea, different rules.

Is Labor Day the same as May Day?

Not necessarily. May Day (International Workers’ Day) is May 1 in most countries. The U.S. and Canada celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday in September. Australia and others use varying Monday rules, sometimes by state.

Why does UK Mother’s Day move so much?

It’s tied to the liturgical calendar—specifically the fourth Sunday in Lent—so the date shifts each year in relation to Easter.

When is World Teachers’ Day, and do all countries use it?

World Teachers’ Day is October 5 (UNESCO). Many education systems observe it, but several countries choose national dates linked to local figures or school traditions (e.g., India on September 5, China on September 10).

When is Children’s Day in the United States?

The U.S. does not have a single federally recognized date. Various organizations observe Children’s Day on the second Sunday in June, but it’s not a nationwide public holiday.

How can I quickly verify a country’s holiday date?

Search “Holiday name + country + year,” then confirm on an official government or central bank calendar. For ongoing accuracy, subscribe to the country’s iCal feed in your digital calendar.

Are these holidays public holidays everywhere?

No. Labor Day/May Day is a public holiday in many countries, but Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day, and Children’s Day are often observances without mandated business closures. Always check the local labor law or government holiday list.