Mother’s Day in Spain is celebrated with flowers, love and heartfelt messages. Credit : Evgeniia Primavera, Shutterstock

In Spain, that treasure is celebrated on the first Sunday of May, and while the flowers and hugs are timeless, the history behind the date might surprise you.

It all started back in 1926, and oddly enough, not in May at all. That year, on October 4th, Spanish children were encouraged to give flowers to their mums. It wasn’t an official holiday, just a beautiful gesture to teach kids to honour and respect their mothers — and others’ too.

Still, the date wasn’t set in stone. Over the following decades, Mother’s Day in Spain bounced around the calendar — even landing on December 8th at one point, lining up with the Catholic Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It wasn’t until 1965 that the country officially settled on the first Sunday of May — and that’s where it’s stayed ever since.

If you’re wondering why your friends in the UK celebrated Mother’s Day back in March while others will wait until later in May — you’re not alone. Turns out, it all depends on where you live.