Mother's Day in 2025

When is Samoan Mother's Day?

Mother's Day Holiday is a public holiday observed in Samoa on the Monday after the second Sunday in May.

This day celebrates the important role of mothers in the culture of Samoa.

The tradition of Mother's Day in Samoa

Mother's Day is the celebration of the contribution of women to the success of families, villages, churches and to the whole nation.

While almost every country sets aside a day to honour mothers, this is rarely a public holiday and is seen by many as a modern tradition.

In Samoa, the value and importance of raising a family and honouring your parents is shown by making the Mondays after Mother's Day and Father's Day public holidays.

The date of Mother's Day is the same as the day popularised in the USA by Miss Anna Jarvis.

In 1907, Miss Jarvis began a movement to set up a national Mother's Day in honour of her mother. Anna's mother, Mrs Anna M. Jarvis, had been instrumental in developing "Mothers Friendship Day" which was set up to assist in the healing process after the Civil War. Miss Jarvis wanted to set aside a day to honour all mothers, living and dead.

The first Mother's Day observance was a church service favourite the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday of May. By 1911, Mother's Day had spread nationwide and was being celebrated in almost every state in the Union.

Shops selling goods may open during Mother's Day in accordance with the provisions of the Public Holidays Act 2008. However, employers are reminded to comply with Section 39 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 in relation to the rate of wages to be paid to employees who work on Public Holidays.