The dates
| Occasion | Where | Date | Start preparing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Friday | US and Europe | Nov 27, 2026 | Prepare existing items now |
| Cyber Monday | US and Europe | Nov 30, 2026 | Same plan as Black Friday |
| Christmas | US and many European markets | Dec 25, 2026 | September to October. Check shipping cut-offs for overseas orders. |
| Valentine's Day | US and Europe | Feb 14, 2027 | Late December to January |
| Mothering Sunday | UK | Mar 7, 2027 | January to February |
| Mother's Day | Spain, Portugal | May 2, 2027 | March |
| Mother's Day | US, Germany and many others | May 9, 2027 | March to April |
| Mother's Day | France | May 30, 2027 | April |
Europe doesn’t have one Mother's Day date. Check the country of your buyer. These dates are planning days, not proven peak days for every shop. The "start preparing" column is my suggestion.
Plan backwards
Last order day = delivery date minus production time minus shipping time minus a safety margin.
Example for physical items going abroad: delivery by May 9. Production 5 days, shipping 10 days, safety 4 days. Subtract 19 days and your last order day is April 20. Use your own real times. Customs and carrier delays abroad can be longer than you expect.
A good rule is to be ready 6 to 10 weeks before the date for physical products. Digital products have no shipping, but you still need time to make and test them. Etsy's Holiday HQ guide also supports preparing early.
What to do each time
- Pick the occasion and the country.
- Check Marketplace Insights for what shoppers search.
- Add or refresh listings with gift wording, photos and a clear delivery time.
- Write the last order day in your listing so buyers know.
What to do next
Put the next two dates into your calendar today, with your last order day beside each.
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Rules, numbers and dates change often. This page reflects the sources below as checked on Nov 9, 2026. Confirm current figures with the official source before you act.
