On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation calling for Americans to celebrate Mother’s Day as a public expression of love and reverence for mothers in the United States. This proclamation was authorized by a Joint Resolution passed on May 8, designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. The first unofficial observances of Mother’s Day were organized by Anna Jarvis in 1908 in West Virginia and Philadelphia. Jarvis’s mother, Anne Reeves Jarvis, was a social activist who had inspired her daughter to honor motherhood and maternal love.
Anna Jarvis’s efforts to establish Mother’s Day as a national holiday gained momentum, with Congress passing a law in 1914 designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. President Wilson issued a proclamation in support of the holiday the following day. Jarvis’s vision for a day to honor mothers involved wearing a white carnation and displaying the American flag. However, she later grew disillusioned with the commercialization of the holiday, especially by florists who raised prices on carnations. Despite her reservations, Mother’s Day continued to be celebrated and recognized nationally.
Over the years, Mother’s Day has evolved into a day for social activism and advocacy, with events being organized to support underprivileged women and children. Women’s groups have used the holiday as a platform to highlight issues related to equal rights and access to childcare. The holiday has also become a significant occasion for consumer spending, with billions of dollars being spent on gifts for mothers, stepmothers, wives, daughters, and other maternal figures. Popular gifts include flowers, greeting cards, and special outings such as dinner or brunch.
Despite fluctuations in consumer spending, Mother’s Day continues to be widely celebrated in the United States, with a majority of adults participating in some form of recognition or gift-giving. While trends in spending may change, the sentiment behind Mother’s Day remains an opportunity to show appreciation and affection for the mothers in our lives. The legacy of Anna Jarvis and the origins of the holiday serve as a reminder of the importance of honoring the contributions and sacrifices of mothers throughout history.
