10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mother’s Day in Canada
Updated: Apr. 28, 2021Got your Mother's Day gift sorted yet? Take a few tips from these fascinating survey findings, which shed light on what Canadian moms really want on their special day.
Mother’s Day in Canada isn’t Mother’s Day in the UK
Throughout North America, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. In the United Kingdom, however, “Mothering Day” takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This year, it was observed on Sunday, March 14.
“M” is for Mother
Across languages, most words for “mother” start with the letter M.
Find out more fascinating facts about every letter in the English alphabet.
Our moms are our heroes
Moms deserve the praise: A 2012 study quoted in Reader’s Digest found that 84 per cent of Canadians think that being a mother is one of the hardest jobs there is, and 64 per cent of Canadians consider Mom to be one of their heroes.
Living with loss? Here’s practical advice on how to get through Mother’s Day without your mom.
The origins of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day actually started in the United States in 1908 with Anna Marie Jarvis, who wanted to commemorate her own mom’s Mother’s Day Work Clubs, which raised money for women with tuberculosis. Jarvis set up the holiday as, of all things, a sober day of reflection. She ultimate came to regret her invention.
Check out 20 things that were invented in Canada.
How much Canadians spend on Mother’s Day
The average Canadian spends $111 on Mother’s Day, making it the most shopped-for event after Christmas. Sons tend to spend more ($123) than daughters ($99); residents of Manitoba tend to budget the most ($278) on average, residents of Nova Scotia the least ($55).
Keep these safe online shopping tips in mind while browsing for Mother’s Day gifts.
Joan Rivers offered sage advice for moms
There are a million sayings about motherhood, but only a few by Joan Rivers: “Always give them the freedom to make mistakes, and then never miss an opportunity to say, ‘I told you so,'” and “Sometimes you’re their best friend, sometimes you’re their enemy, but you’ll always be their bank.”
Check out more of the funniest quotes of all time.
We buy a lot of Mother’s Day cards
Mother’s Day is known as a Hallmark holiday for a reason: 78 per cent of respondents to a National Retail Federation survey said they plan on buying Mother’s Day cards.
Check out this heartwarming gallery showcasing a mother’s love in the wild.
Any Mother’s Day gift is better than no gift
According to an Ipsos Reid survey, 41 per cent of moms thought not getting a gift was the worst thing they could receive on Mother’s Day. A gong, a chainsaw and a bag of onions were also on the hate list.
Looking for inspiration? Check out these great Mother’s Day gift ideas during the pandemic.
Moms are great actors, too
Forty-two per cent of Canadian moms have reported faking appreciation for their Mother’s Day gifts. It might have something to do with the fact that over half of us put off the planning until the last minute…
Read the heartwarming story of what one woman is doing to celebrate Mother’s Day during the pandemic.
Your mom is more tech savvy than you thought
Tech trumps tulips: apparently nine out of 10 mothers would prefer iPads to flowers.
Now that you’re familiar with these facts about Mother’s Day in Canada, check out 25 Mother’s Day quotes that capture what a mom’s love really means.