Celebrate Mother’s Day

The official American celebration of Mother’s Day is a relatively new phenomenon – the holiday was created at the start of the 20th century to honor the mothers of young boys who were killed in the battles of World War I. However, Americans have for hundreds of years called for a day to honor the mothers of the nation.

A Look Back

In 1858, a young mother in rural Appalachia named Ann Jarvis organized groups of women on ‘Mother’s Work Days’ in an attempt to improve the sanitary conditions of the Civil War for both the Union and the Confederacy.

Julia Ward Howe worked around the same time in an attempt to import a Mother’s Day holiday from Great Britain. Howe intended Mother’s Day to unite women against war – in 1870, she wrote her Mother’s Day Proclamation to call for peace and disarmament.

However, it was Ann Jarvis’ daughter Anna who most effectively brought Mother’s Day status and popularity. When Ann Jarvis passed away in 1905, Anna Jarvis attempted to establish a Memorial Day for women in honor of her mother. In 1907, the younger Jarvis stood in front of her mother’s church and passed out one white carnation to each mother in the congregation. 1908 saw the first Mother’s Day service; celebrated on May 10th, the service was held at the same church where Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School.

Local celebration of mother’s day rose in popularity, and 1904 saw Frank E. Hering, president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, make the first known public plea for a national holiday designated for the honor of the nation’s mothers. On May 8th, 1914, Congress passed a law that reserved the second Sunday in May for the celebration of Mother’s Day. The next day, Woodrow Wilson made a proclamation that declared the first national Mother’s Day as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of American mothers.

Did You Know…?

Thanks to Anna Jarvis, white carnations have come to represent Mother’s Day. We give our Mom’s carnations in remembrance of Jarvis’ 1908 service; however, white carnations also symbolize the purity of a mother’s love.

On the second Sunday in May, Americans return Mom’s pure love with gifts. Mother’s Day is one of the most commercially successful holidays celebrated in the United States: Each year, citizens spend $2.6 billion for flowers, $1.53 billion for pampering gifts, and $68 million for greeting cards. The jewelry industry also sees Mom-driven profits – 7.8% of its annual revenue is generated on Mother’s Day.

Many in the U.S. show Mom that they care by gifting her with food: Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year for Americans to dine at restaurants.

Love Your Mom

Of course, we all love our mothers. So let’s show them! Here are a few ways to show Mom that you care: