Mothers Day - second Sunday of May, Anna Jarvis origin, and how the US observes it

Mothers Day on the second Sunday of May is a US cultural holiday honoring mothers and motherhood. Established in 1914 by presidential proclamation, it is not a federal holiday but is one of the largest commercial gifting events of the US calendar.

The one-line summary

US cultural holiday on the second Sunday of May honoring mothers. Established 1914 by President Wilsons proclamation. One of the largest commercial gifting events in the US, with the floral industry centered on the weekend.

Origin

Mothers Day was established in the United States by Anna Jarvis in 1908, who held a memorial for her mother Ann Jarvis in Grafton, West Virginia. Jarvis campaigned for an official Mothers Day for several years. President Wilson signed a proclamation making it a national holiday in 1914.

Jarvis later came to regret the commercialization of the holiday, which she had envisioned as a personal expression of gratitude rather than a commercial event. She lobbied unsuccessfully to have the holiday removed from the calendar in the 1920s.

How it is observed

Family gatherings, brunch, gift exchange (especially flowers, cards, and jewelry). Mothers Day is the largest single day of the year for floral purchases; approximately one-quarter of all cut flowers sold in the US are purchased for Mothers Day. Brunch is the dominant meal pattern; many restaurants run Mothers Day brunch specials.

Legal status

Mothers Day is not a US federal holiday under 5 U.S.C. section 6103. It is a federal recognition day, established by presidential proclamation in 1914. Banks, USPS, stock markets, and government offices remain open.

Where it is contested

Mothers Day itself is broadly accepted. The commercialization of the holiday has been a perennial critique, especially from feminist commentators since the 1970s. The day nevertheless remains a major US cultural and commercial event.

In other countries

Mothers Day is observed in over 40 countries, though on different dates. The UK observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent (mid-March); it predates the US holiday and has separate religious origins as a day to visit ones mother church. Several Latin American countries observe Dia de las Madres on May 10 regardless of weekday.

Historical background

Mother's Day was founded in the United States by Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia, in 1908. Jarvis held the first Mother's Day celebration at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton on May 10, 1908, in memory of her mother Ann Jarvis, who had organized women's clubs to promote friendship and health. The commercial floral industry quickly adopted Mother's Day as a major sales opportunity.

Anna Jarvis herself later became a vocal critic of Mother's Day commercialization, fighting against the holiday she had founded. She wrote letters to retailers and politicians protesting the use of Mother's Day for marketing and tried to have the holiday rescinded. She died in 1948 in poverty. Despite her objections, Mother's Day became a federal holiday in 1914 under President Wilson and has remained one of the largest commercial holidays in the US.

The National Retail Federation estimates Mother's Day spending at over $30 billion annually in recent years, with flowers, jewelry, special outings, greeting cards, and clothing the major categories. Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday of May in the US and many other countries; the UK observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent (a different date and different historical origin tied to the medieval practice of visiting one's mother church).

Modern cultural practice

Mother's Day is the largest commercial holiday in the United States in terms of consumer spending, with annual spending exceeding $30 billion. The greeting card industry has made Mother's Day, Christmas, and Valentine's Day the three largest card-giving holidays. Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants in many countries; phone traffic to mothers is the highest of the year. The day is widely observed in over 40 countries, though on different dates.

The Mother's Day weekend is a major retail event, with sales on flowers (especially long-stemmed roses), jewelry, cosmetics, apparel, and greeting cards. Restaurant reservations fill weeks in advance. The day is also marked by school events where children perform songs and create crafts for their mothers. Mother's Day is the most religious of the major secular US holidays in terms of church attendance, with many churches holding special services honoring mothers.

Mother's Day by the numbers

Additional context

The 2026 Mother's Day falls on May 10. Many families begin Mother's Day planning weeks in advance, with restaurant reservations, flower orders, and gift purchases concentrated in the early May window. School events often include Mother-themed programs where children perform songs and present crafts.

Sources

• National Retail Federation, Mothers Day spending: nrf.com
• Library of Congress, Mothers Day: loc.gov
• Wikipedia, "Mothers Day": en.wikipedia.org

A short history of Mother's Day

Mother's Day was established in the United States by Anna Jarvis in 1908 as a memorial to her mother. The first official Mother's Day was observed on the second Sunday of May 1910 in West Virginia. The day was recognised as a US federal holiday in 1914 under President Woodrow Wilson.

Mother's Day around the world

Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday of May in the United States and many other countries. The United Kingdom observes Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent (three weeks before Easter), a different historical tradition. Other countries observe Mother's Day on different dates: Russia on the last Sunday of November, Thailand on August 12 (the birthday of Queen Sirikit), and Indonesia on December 22.

How it is observed

Mother's Day is the largest greeting card and gift holiday in many countries, with significant spending on flowers, jewellery, restaurant meals, and personal services. The holiday has drawn criticism from founder Anna Jarvis, who viewed its commercialisation as contrary to the day's intended meaning.

Symbols and traditions

Mother's Day is associated with several recurring symbols and traditions, including carnations (pink for living mothers, white for deceased), cards, flowers, and family gatherings. Religious services are common in some communities, with sermons celebrating motherhood.

Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother's Day, later became a prominent critic of the day's commercialisation. She spent her later years campaigning against the greeting card industry and the day's commercial exploitation.