The Story Behind This Holiday
The Fascinating Origins of How We Celebrate Mothers
Today, join me on a journey to discovery the real meaning and history of Mother’s Day. Did you know that this celebration is way more than just a day for flowers and greeting cards. Its history reveals deep roots in peace activism, community organizing, and a daughter’s devotion to her mother’s memory. Let’s explore how this special holiday came to be and why we celebrate it today.
The History of Mother’s Day
Honoring Motherhood Through the Ages
Long before the modern Mother’s Day existed, ancient civilizations honored motherhood through various celebrations:
- Ancient Greece paid tribute to Rhea, mother of the gods and goddesses, with special spring festivals.
- Ancient Romans celebrated the goddess Cybele, another mother figure, with the festival of Hilaria in late March.
- These early celebrations show how cultures throughout history have recognized the importance of mothers to families and society.
While these ancient celebrations aren’t directly connected to our modern holiday, they highlight how honoring motherhood has been part of human culture for thousands of years.
The American Roots of Mother’s Day
Peace Activism and the Seeds of a Holiday
The history of Mother’s Day in America begins in the aftermath of a national tragedy. Following the American Civil War (1861-1865), when the nation was deeply divided, women began organizing for peace and community healing.
Ann Reeves Jarvis, a community organizer from West Virginia, created “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” in the 1850s. These clubs served multiple essential purposes:
- Teaching proper sanitation to prevent disease
- Providing medicine and care for families in need
- Creating a space where divided communities could come together
Jarvis’s work showed how mothers could be powerful forces for positive change and unity during difficult times.
Around the same time, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” made another significant contribution. In 1870, she penned the “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” which called on mothers worldwide to unite for peace. She envisioned a “Mother’s Day for Peace” where women would work together to prevent future wars.
Anna Jarvis
The Founder of Modern Mother’s Day
The Mother’s Day we celebrate today exists largely thanks to the determination of one woman: Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis.
When Ann died in May 1905, her daughter Anna was inspired to honor her mother’s memory and all her vital societal roles. Anna aimed to fulfill her mother’s dream of establishing a day dedicated to recognizing her mother’s contributions and sacrifices.
On May 10, 1908, Anna organized the first official Mother’s Day celebrations at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, and simultaneously in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She chose the second Sunday in May because it was close to her mother’s death anniversary.
Anna’s vision was for Mother’s Day to be a personal and heartfelt occasion. She encouraged people to:
- Write handwritten letters expressing gratitude to their mothers.
- Visit their mothers or attend church services together.
- Wear white carnations as a symbol of a mother’s pure love.
How Mother’s Day Became a National Holiday
Anna Jarvis was passionate about making Mother’s Day a recognized holiday. She launched a massive letter-writing campaign, contacting politicians, business leaders, and women’s groups to gain support.
Her persistent efforts paid off when President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914. This presidential proclamation recognized the importance of honoring mothers nationwide and cemented the holiday in American culture.
The Bittersweet Turn
Commercialization Takes Over
In a twist of irony, Mother’s Day’s very success would later become Anna Jarvis’s greatest disappointment. As the holiday grew in popularity, it also became increasingly commercialized.
Jarvis had envisioned a day of personal connection and heartfelt appreciation. Instead, she witnessed it transform into an occasion driven by the sale of cards, flowers, and gifts. This commercial aspect deeply troubled her, as she felt it undermined the day’s true meaning.
Anna spent the later years of her life fighting against Mother’s Day’s commercialization. She even filed lawsuits against organizations that profited from using the name “Mother’s Day” and spoke out publicly against the buying of cards and gifts instead of writing personal letters.
Mother’s Day Around the World
While the American version of Mother’s Day has spread to many countries, different cultures celebrate motherhood in their own unique ways:
- United Kingdom: Their celebration has roots in the Christian tradition of “Mothering Sunday,” which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Initially, it was a day when people would return to their “mother church” or main cathedral in their area. Over time, it evolved into a day to honor mothers, similar to the American holiday.
- Other countries have adopted Mother’s Day but may celebrate it on different dates and customs that reflect their cultural values.
These varied celebrations show how the appreciation of mothers transcends cultural boundaries, even as the specific traditions differ.
Mother’s Day Today
Finding Meaning Beyond Commercialism
Today, Mother’s Day remains one of the most popular holidays worldwide. In the United States, it typically involves:
- Giving cards, flowers (especially carnations), and gifts. Chek this out: https://www.amazon.com/shop/healthymindset478
- Taking mothers out for special meals
- Making phone calls or visits to spend time together
- Sharing appreciation on social media
Despite the commercialization that troubled Anna Jarvis, Mother’s Day’s core purpose remains to honor and express gratitude to mothers for their love, sacrifices, and ongoing influence in our lives.
Many people now seek to celebrate Mother’s Day in ways that honor its original spirit, focusing on meaningful connection rather than expensive gifts. Simple acts like spending quality time together, writing heartfelt notes, or creating homemade presents often carry more significance than store-bought items. Give mom a spa day or buy her something to pamper herself.
A Timeless Tribute to Motherhood
The history of Mother’s Day reveals a holiday with deep roots in peace activism and a personal mission to honor mothers’ contributions to both family and society. From Ann Reeves Jarvis’s community work to Anna Jarvis’s dedication to creating a day of appreciation, Mother’s Day emerged from a genuine desire to recognize maternal love and sacrifice.
While the holiday’s commercial aspects have grown significantly since its inception, its fundamental purpose remains unchanged: to express gratitude for the immeasurable impact mothers have on our lives.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day each year, we can honor its rich history by remembering that there is an opportunity for genuine connection and heartfelt appreciation beyond the cards and flowers. In doing so, we pay tribute to our own mothers and the women whose vision established this special day of recognition.
Whether through simple words of thanks, quality time spent together, or acts of service, Mother’s Day offers a chance to reflect on and celebrate mothers’ enduring influence on shaping our families, communities, and world.
References
James Hardy, “History of Mother’s Day: The Origin Story Behind Mother’s Day,” History Cooperative, May 10, 2015, https://historycooperative.org/mothers-day-a-history/. Accessed May 4, 2025
Goomansingh, R. (2024). First Mom. Winnipeg Free Press, (), D6.
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