Who Created Mother's Day?

As universal as Mother’s Day is, the holiday has surprisingly modern roots. While celebrations honoring mother goddesses have existed for thousands of years, it wasn’t until the beginning of the 20th century that the modern version of Mother’s Day came to be. American activist Anna Jarvis created the holiday in honor of her own mother, who had organized women’s groups to promote health and friendship in the West Virginia community. Jarvis’s mother had dreamed of a memorial day honoring all mothers’ work. Jarvis promised to fulfill those wishes after her mother’s death in 1905 to honor her memory. On May 10, 1908, Jarvis held what is considered by many to be the first Mother’s Day celebration. In addition to conducting a memorial service in Philadelphia to honor all mothers, Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to her late mother’s church in West Virginia, a flower that would come to be a symbol of the holiday. The celebration rapidly caught on, and President Woodrow Wilson officially designated the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day on May 9, 1914. The holiday’s appeal to businesses played a significant role in its success, as florists, card companies, and other industries promoted the day. Jarvis saw this commercialization as a stark departure from her original intent for Mother’s Day, and she spent the last years of her life attempting to abolish the holiday. Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world, with billions of dollars spent yearly in the U.S. alone on cards, flowers, and gifts to celebrate mothers.