Paraguay's Mother's Day shares May 15 with which national day?

Paraguay’s Mother’s Day shares 15 May with Día de la Patria, the country’s national celebration of independence.

The date connects motherhood with Paraguay’s patriotic history. The independence movement culminated in the events of 14 and 15 May 1811, when Paraguay broke from Spanish rule. The holiday’s patriotic meaning is why Día de la Patria is also described in English as Independence Day.

The Mother’s Day date has a specifically Paraguayan origin rather than being copied from the second-Sunday-of-May custom common in the United States and much of Latin America. It honors Juana María de Lara, who played a role in the independence events and became associated with the choice of date.

The overlap has sometimes caused debate. Critics have argued that Mother’s Day, often the more popular celebration, can overshadow the independence commemoration. Proposals to move it to a Sunday in May have appeared, but 15 May remains the standard answer. Día de Reyes means Epiphany, Día del Trabajador is Labour Day, and Día de los Muertos is unrelated.