Mother's Day marketing opportunities around the world

You may not realize it, but this past Sunday was Mother’s Day. No, you’re not a terrible child for missing it. March is when Mother’s Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom. However, if your company does business in the UK, you may have missed a golden opportunity to reach out to them with targeted content in recognition of the day.

That could mean a social media post, a special offer in recognition of mothers, or just an acknowledgement of it on a conference call, to show that you’re taking an interest in your customers/clients. Fortunately, there are still plenty of other places around the world—including in the U.S. in May—that celebrate Mother’s Day, in one form or another, throughout the year.

Mother’s Day spending

Since 1908, when it was first widely celebrated in the U.S., Mother’s Day has grown into a multibillion dollar holiday. Today, the average American spends nearly $200 for this special day every year, including cards, flowers, jewelry, and candy. In Britain, meanwhile, they spend an estimated $500 million on the holiday annually. Brazil spends $171 per person on the holiday every year, while Germany spends about $32. On average, consumers around the world spend about 75% more on Mother’s Day than they do on Father’s Day.

With all of this spending taking place, Mother’s Day is one of the biggest retail holidays of the year. And it’s a day that no company can afford to sit out—not just in the United States, but anywhere they do business.

Mother’s Day in other countries

So when is Mother’s Day celebrated around the world, and how? Let’s look at a few countries that observe it:

United Kingdom- It’s over this year, but so you don’t miss it in the future, the UK celebrates Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, on the fourth Sunday of lent.

Mexico- Mother’s Day is every May 10th, no matter what day it falls on. Common gifts include irons and blenders, and everyone gets the afternoon off to take their mothers to lunch.

Russia- They celebrate Mother’s Day on March 8th, International Women’s Day. There’s another, official Mother’s Day holiday on the last Sunday in November, but most gift-giving and other celebrations happen in March.

Japan- They used to celebrate on March 6th, in honor of Empress Koujun’s birthday. Now, however, they celebrate on the second Sunday of May, like the U.S. Mothers commonly receive carnations as gifts.

Thailand- Mother’s Day is celebrated on August 12th, to commemorate the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, considered the Mother of all Thai people. On that day, you can see houses in Thailand decorated with lights and flags, along with portraits of the queen.

No matter where you are in the world, people love their mothers and want to celebrate them. And no matter when and how it’s celebrated, it’s an important day. If you want to market to a global audience, you need to keep abreast of these observances, anywhere and everywhere you do business. Look into various holidays around the world and how they’re celebrated, and find ways to employ them in your marketing strategy. Your clientele will thank you—and so will their mothers.