Mother’s Day has roots in both ancient and modern traditions honoring mothers, but the contemporary holiday as we know it began in the United States. The first national observance took place on May 10, 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling on Americans to honor mothers on the second Sunday in May with displays of the U.S. flag as a public expression of love and reverence for mothers.
The holiday was shaped by the efforts of several women. Anna Jarvis organized early Mother’s Day services in West Virginia and Philadelphia, advocating for a day to recognize the contributions of mothers. Earlier, in 1870, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston-based poet, suffragist, and abolitionist, proposed a “Mother’s Day for Peace” following the Civil War, emphasizing social reform and peace.
Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries, often on the same second Sunday of May, including Australia, where it honors mothers, grandmothers, and maternal figures. The day is marked by family gatherings, gifts, flowers, and recognition of the often invisible work mothers perform.