Mexico marks Día de las Madres on May 10 every year, a fixed date that catches many newcomers off guard. Unlike the United States and Canada, where Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday in May, the Mexican holiday never moves. This year, May 10, 2026 lands on a Sunday, but in most years it falls on a weekday, and the country celebrates all the same.
The tradition dates to 1922, when Rafael Alducín, founder and editor of the Mexico City newspaper Excélsior, launched an editorial campaign calling on the nation to pick a single date to honor mothers. Alducín had watched Mother’s Day gain popularity in the United States after Anna Jarvis lobbied President Woodrow Wilson to declare it a national observance in 1914. With support from the Catholic Church, Alducín’s campaign caught on almost overnight. On May 10, 1922, Mexico held its first official Día de las Madres, becoming the first country in Latin America to formally recognize the holiday.
Why May 10 Stuck
Two factors cemented the date. May is traditionally dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith, giving the holiday immediate spiritual weight. The other reason is more practical: in the early 1900s, Mexican workers were commonly paid on the 10th of the month, meaning families had money to spend on celebrations. By 1949, Mexico City had dedicated its first monument to mothers.
More than a century later, the holiday rivals Christmas in cultural importance. Celebrations typically begin the night of May 9, when sons and daughters gather at the family home. Early on the morning of May 10, families wake their mothers with “Las Mañanitas,” a traditional birthday and celebration song, often performed by a mariachi band hired weeks or months in advance.
What It Means in Baja California
For those living in Tijuana, Ensenada, Rosarito, or anywhere else in Baja California, the practical effects are hard to miss. Restaurants book up weeks before May 10. Flower shops and bakeries see their busiest day of the year. Some businesses close early, and celebrations often stretch from May 9 through May 11.
Family lunches, gift giving, and mariachi serenades are the main traditions. Schools that hold classes on May 10 typically organize activities so children can sing to their mothers. El Salvador and Guatemala also celebrate Mother’s Day on May 10, following Mexico’s lead.
The fixed date means that in years when U.S. Mother’s Day and Mexican Mother’s Day fall days apart, restaurants and florists in border communities face back-to-back rushes. This year’s Sunday alignment gives families on both sides of the border a rare chance to celebrate together.
Source: Gringo Gazette