The Origin of Mother's Day

Anniemara Blog April 30 2026

by Annie Prescott

   As I was contemplating some new ideas for Mother’s Day gifts, I started to wonder about the origins of this celebration. So I decided to do some research.

I found that the history of Mother’s Day is a mix of ancient traditions, radical activism and eventually, a commercial evolution that caused the original creator to disown her original idea.

   The concept of honoring motherhood is ancient in tradition.  The Greeks and Romans held festivals to celebrate mother goddesses like Rhea and Cybele.

   Much later in time the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe chose the fourth Sunday of Lent as Mothering Sunday.  This was an opportunity when the faithful would return to their “Mother” church, the main church in their area, for a special service. 

   Eventually, it became more secular, when servants were given the day off to visit their mothers and families.

   Mother’s Day in America was created by two different women with different goals.  In the 19^th century, Ann Jarvis organized “Mother’s Day Work Clubs” to help local women to properly care for their children.  After the Civil War, she organized “Mother’s Friendship Day” so that mothers of former Union and Confederate soldiers could meet in reconciliation.

   In 1870, Julia Ward Howe (author of Battle Hymn of the Republic) issued a “Mother’s Day Proclamation”.

   Howe also wrote of reconciliation after both the Civil and the Franco-Prussian Wars.  She urged mothers to promote world peace.  She famously asked the question “Why should not the mothers of mankind be consulted to prevent the waste of life?”

   In 1908, Anna Jarvis, Ann’s daughter, organized Mother’s Day as a way to honor the untold sacrifices mothers make for their children.  The first celebration was at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia, where Anna Jarvis honored her own mother.

   In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation stating that Mother’s Day would be celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

   Anna Jarvis chose a white carnation as a symbol of the purity of a mother’s love.

As the holiday became a national success, florists, card companies and confectioners capitalized on it.

Anna Jarvis’ original idea was all but forgotten.  She spent the rest of her life fighting the commercialization of the day.  By the time she passed away in 1948, she completely disowned the holiday she had created.

   Today, Mother’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated days throughout the world.

   This week, I have picked out a few of my favorite gifts to honor you Mom.