Mother’s Day is a holiday celebrated annually to honor mothers and motherhood. It is celebrated on various dates around the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. In the United States, Mother’s Day 2023 will be celebrated on Sunday, May 14th.
When did Mother’s Day start?
The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman spring festivals dedicated to maternal goddesses. However, the modern holiday of Mother’s Day began in the early 20th century. Here is a brief overview of the establishment of Mother’s Day:
- 1872 – Activist Julia Ward Howe called for establishing a “Mother’s Peace Day” dedicated to pacifism and mothers.
- 1907 – Anna Jarvis held a private Mother’s Day celebration in memory of her own mother in Grafton, West Virginia.
- 1908 – Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s Day services at Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia, which was her mother’s church.
- 1914 – President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
- 1924 – President Calvin Coolidge recommended that all states adopt Mother’s Day as a holiday.
Anna Jarvis is recognized as the Founder of Mother’s Day in the US. She advocated tirelessly to establish a national Mother’s Day and make it recognized across all states. Her efforts paid off when President Wilson formally recognized Mother’s Day in 1914.
Mother’s Day in the early 20th century
In its early days, Mother’s Day was met with enthusiasm and celebration across the United States.
- Mother’s Day became an extremely popular holiday in the years after its official recognition.
- Florists, card makers, and other retailers capitalized on the holiday’s popularity.
- Carnations were traditionally given as Mother’s Day gifts, with white carnations representing mothers who have passed away and red or pink carnations representing mothers still living.
- Anna Jarvis, who decried the commercialization of the holiday, fought against the floral and card industries in an attempt to regain the simple celebrations of her original church memorial services.
The rising commercial interests in Mother’s Day greatly bothered Anna Jarvis, who had intended for the day to be sentimental and personal, not profit-driven. Nevertheless, the floral industry was one of the biggest early promoters and beneficiaries of the holiday.
Mother’s Day floral sales in the early 20th century
Year | Estimated floral sales for Mother’s Day (in US dollars) |
---|---|
1917 | $5,596,000 |
1921 | $9,532,000 |
1926 | $19,100,000 |
As seen in the table, spending on Mother’s Day flowers exploded in the couple decades after the holiday’s inception. Businesses saw opportunity in Mother’s Day and were quick to capitalize.
Mother’s Day card industry
Along with florists, card makers accounted for a major share of Mother’s Day business in the early 20th century. Some key facts about the early Mother’s Day card industry:
- Greeting cards quickly became expected gifts for Mother’s Day.
- Over 20 million Mother’s Day cards were sold for the first celebration in 1914.
- The Hall Brothers company (later Hallmark Cards) was one of the top card makers producing Mother’s Day cards early on.
- Printers, lithographers, and other related industries saw significant business around Mother’s Day.
Anna Jarvis strongly resented the commercialization and profit-seeking nature of Mother’s Day greeting cards. She believed they detracted from the sentimental meaning the day held for her personally.
Anna Jarvis fights commercialization
Distraught by the rampant commercialization of Mother’s Day occurring across the country, Anna Jarvis set out to reclaim the holiday and restore it to a reverent day of remembrance.
- Jarvis incorporated herself as the Mother’s Day International Association and filed a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother’s Day festival in Philadelphia.
- She crashed meetings of floral and card making industries, demanding they stop exploiting the holiday.
- Jarvis also urged people to stop buying flowers and cards for Mother’s Day.
- She launched rallies and boycotts in protest of the commercial trend.
- In the 1930s, Jarvis even campaigned to see Mother’s Day rescinded as an official holiday.
Despite her tireless efforts, Jarvis was unable to overcome the size and momentum of the industries profiting off Mother’s Day. Her attempts to reclaim the holiday were largely in vain. But Jarvis left a legacy as an activist who shaped the establishment of Mother’s Day observance.
Later Mother’s Day traditions
While gifts like flowers and cards have remained Mother’s Day staples, some new traditions became associated with the holiday in the latter 20th century.
- Mother’s Day brunches and lunches at restaurants became a popular way to celebrate with family.
- Jewelry gifts also became common Mother’s Day presents.
- Phone calls between mothers and children, particularly adult children, increased significantly on Mother’s Day.
- Church services remained an integral part of Mother’s Day for many families.
- Personalized gifts with photos, poems, or inside jokes also became common.
Mother’s Day continues to balance commercial interests with genuine sentiment. Modern celebrations still honor Anna Jarvis’ original vision while also reflecting new traditions. The holiday has evolved considerably but remains focused on cherishing mothers.
Mother’s Day around the world
Beyond the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated across the globe. Here are some interesting facts about Mother’s Day celebrations worldwide:
- In many countries, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, just as in the US.
- In some countries, the holiday falls on different dates. For example, Mother’s Day is held on March 8th in South Africa.
- In the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent.
- Some Asian and Arab countries have adopted recently westernized Mother’s Day celebrations.
- Customs vary across cultures. For instance, in Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated by giving mothers jasmine flowers.
- Carnations are commonly given on Mother’s Day in Australia and New Zealand.
- In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day is tied to seasons and falls at the end of the rainy season.
While Mother’s Day rituals differ, the unifying thread across most cultures is dedicating a day to maternal bonds.
Mother’s Day in the modern era
Today, Mother’s Day remains one of the biggest holidays on the US calendar. Here are some stats on the modern celebration:
- 133 million Mother’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making it the 3rd largest card-sending holiday.
- Over $2 billion is spent on flowers for Mother’s Day.
- The average age of first-time mothers in the US is 26 years old.
- There are over 85 million mothers in the United States.
- Long distance Mother’s Day phone calls exceed those on any other day of the year.
Commercialization continues to shape present-day Mother’s Day, with businesses marketing everything from brunch specials to jewelry sales around holiday gifting. However, genuine family bonding and celebration of moms remain at the core of the occasion.
Most popular Mother’s Day gifts (in 2022)
Gift | Percent who planned to buy |
---|---|
Greeting cards | 77% |
Flowers | 68% |
Gift cards | 56% |
Clothing | 49% |
Personal care items | 40% |
The table above shows the most popular gift items shoppers planned to purchase for Mother’s Day 2022. Greeting cards, such as those protested by Anna Jarvis in the early 1900s, remain the top gift on modern Mother’s Day.
Conclusion
Mother’s Day has transformed over the decades from a small church ceremony to a major commercial holiday. But its emotional significance has endured, providing a chance to recognize maternal bonds across ages and distances. In 2023 and beyond, Mother’s Day will continue celebrating moms across America and the world.