Mothers work really hard, and deserve thanks and a proper break! Of course, this should happen every day - but it's very common all around the world to make an extra big fuss on Mothers Day. As we'll find out though, people all around the world celebrate it very diferently! So read on to find out everything you need to know about this mum-tastic celebration!

We've got more facts on other topics too - like these octopus facts, these geography facts, or even these totally useless facts! Ok let's get back to it - mum's the word!

1. Mother's Day Back In Time

Mother's Day isn't a recent thing - in fact, it dates back to ancient Greece, where people honored Rhea, the mother of gods. The Romans celebrated a similar festival called Hilaria. There's just something natural about paying your respects to mums - wherever you are in the world or at whatever point in history. Seeing as they gave birth to us, it's only fair!

2. Modern Mother's Day

The modern version of Mother's Day was founded by Anna Jarvis in 1908 in the United States. She wanted to honor her mother's work as a peace activist. She felt her mum didn't get the respect she deserved, and wanted to do something to change that! Starting mother's day might be the best mother's day gift ever!

3. It Goes Official

Mother's Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation marking the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. It's celebrated on a different day in the UK - on the last Sunday in March. The date changes all over the world!

4. Everyone loves a card!

Approximately 113 million cards are exchanged on Mother's Day in the U.S. alone, making it the third-largest card-sending holiday after Christmas and Valentine's Day. In the UK Mother's Day is worth a whopping £1.6 BILLION in cards, boxes of chocolates and gifts. There's a lot of money in mums - but remember, the best cards are always homemade!

5. Don't forget to call!

Mother's Day sees the highest number of phone calls made in a single day. On this day, phone traffic can spike by up to 37%! On other occasions the family all meet up in person - and of course birthdays are spread through the year. So don't forget to ring your mum on Mother's Day!

6. Everyone loves flowers!

Around one-quarter of all the flowers purchased throughout the year are bought for Mother's Day. Carnations are a traditional favourite because Anna Jarvis chose them as the symbol for the holiday. Some flowers are less common - like roses, which are usually given for Valentine's Day. But all flowers are good though, and it really depends on the mother you're giving it to!

7. Around The World - Thailand

In Thailand, Mother's day starts with alms-giving to monks. People often give their mothers jasmine flowers, which symbolize motherhood. There are also grand celebrations, including parades and ceremonies, to honor the Queen. Mother's Day is always held in honour of Queen Sirikit, who is thought of as the mother of the whole country!

8. Around the World - Brazil

Mothers Day in Brazil is a party! The day is celebrated with large family meet-ups and feasts. Children often sing songs and perform plays to honour their mothers, and giving gifts is common. Sounds like a lot of fun! Like elsewhere in the world, mothers need to be given a break, so fingers crossed she doesn't get left with all the washing up!

9. Around the World - Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, Mother's Day is celebrated with a huge three-day festival! It's called Antrosht, and they really go big on it! At Antrosht families gather, eat huge meals, and sing songs about family heroes. So a little bit more than a phonecall and a card!

10. Breakfast in Bed

A popular tradition in the West is to serve mothers breakfast in bed. This is a simple thing to do but it shows appreciation and gives mums a break from their daily routines. But NEWSFLASH - you can give your mum a break throughout the rest of the year too!

11. The World's Most Expensive Gift

If you want a step up from breakfast in bed, you could try this - $48 million diamond, given to a mom by her son in Hong Kong. It was the most expensive mother's day gift ever recorded! This is going to take some beating!

12. The Weirdest Mother's Day Tradition?

In Serbia, Mother's Day is celebrated in an... unusual way. Children sneak into their mother's bedroom and tie her up, only releasing her when she gives them gifts. It sounds dark, but is meant to be done in a playful way. The tradition is part of a string of celebrations that include Children's Day and Father's Day. Hopefully the rest of the day is a bit nicer for mum!

13. Cake Time

In many countries, baking a special cake is a Mother's Day tradition. In France, "Fête des Mères" is often celebrated with cakes shaped like flowers. In the UK, a traditional one is the Simnel cake, a fruit cake with a layer of marzipan. Simnel cakes are pretty rare these days, but they were originally linked to Mothering Sunday. So if you want to really make a good impression this mothers day - bake a Simnel cake!

14. It's for charity

In many countries, Mother's Day is also a time for charity and giving back. For example, in Australia, the tradition of selling carnations on Mother's Day started with the Mother's Day Classic, a fun run and walk that raises funds for breast cancer research. This event celebrates mothers, but more than that - it even supports a cause that affects many mothers, too!

15. Mother's Day in Space!

Astronauts have celebrated Mother's Day in space, sending soppy messages to their mothers back on Earth. In 2013, astronaut Chris Hadfield played a song for his mum from the International Space Station. It just goes to show, even if you're whizzing through a vacuum at thousands of miles an hour - you still have time for your mum! Zero gravity is no excuse!