The Story Behind Mother’s Day: From Ancient Rites to a Modern Celebration

When you set aside the second Sunday in May to honor Mom, you’re taking part in a tradition that spans millennia. While the modern Mother’s Day was born in the United States in the early 20th century, people have celebrated motherhood for far longer. Here’s how the holiday came to be—and why its founder spent her final years fighting what it became.

Ancient & Medieval Roots

• Classical festivals. The ancient Greeks honored Rhea, mother of the gods, with springtime feasts, while Romans celebrated Hilaria, a multi‑day festival for the mother goddess Cybele. calaverasenterprise.com

• Early Christian England. By the 1600s, “Mothering Sunday” fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It was less about moms specifically than about returning to one’s “mother church,” but it gradually evolved into a day for family reunions, treats, and small gifts for mothers. Encyclopedia Britannica

These early customs faded in America, but they set the stage for a dedicated day of maternal appreciation.

The American Birth of Mother’s Day

Anna Jarvis (1864 – 1948), the American activist who campaigned for—and ultimately founded—Mother’s Day.

1. A daughter’s promise. Philadelphian Anna Jarvis vowed to fulfill her late mother’s dream of a day honoring all mothers. On May 10, 1908, she organized a church service in Grafton, West Virginia, while a parallel celebration—funded by department‑store magnate John Wanamaker—drew thousands in Philadelphia. Los Alamos Daily Post

2. A nationwide campaign. Jarvis spent the next six years writing thousands of letters, lobbying governors, ministers, and Congress. Her message was simple: mothers shape every citizen; they deserve a national day of gratitude.

3. Official recognition. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, marking the first new U.S. holiday in nearly 60 years. Encyclopedia Britannica

   
   

White carnations—Jarvis’s mother’s favorite bloom—became the original symbol: white for a mother who had passed, red or pink for a mother still living.

Commercialization & the Founder’s Regret

Success came with a cost. Florists, greeting‑card companies, and candy makers quickly capitalized on the holiday. By 1920, Jarvis condemned the “profiteers,” staging boycotts and even getting arrested for disturbing a florist convention. She spent her modest inheritance on lawsuits to protect “Mother’s Day” from corporate misuse—and died in 1948, blind, penniless, and disillusioned. New York Post

Mother’s Day Today—A Global Mosaic

Despite Jarvis’s objections, Mother’s Day flourished worldwide, though not always on the same date:

Country	Date	Unique Tradition
United States & most of the world	2nd Sunday in May	Breakfast in bed, flowers, family gatherings
Ethiopia	End of the rainy season (Antrosht)	A three‑day feast with singing and dancing HISTORY
United Kingdom	4th Sunday of Lent	“Mothering Sunday,” often celebrated with Simnel cake
Thailand	Aug 12	Ceremonies honoring Queen Sirikit, considered the nation’s mother

However and whenever it’s marked, the heart of the day remains the same: honoring the women who nurture us.

A Thoughtful Way to Celebrate

Anna Jarvis envisioned Mother’s Day as a personal, heartfelt observance—not an exercise in excess. A handwritten note, a home‑cooked meal, or a shared memory can mean more than a pricey bouquet. Still, if you’d like to pair your gratitude with a lasting token of love, timeless jewelry never goes out of style.

Ready to find a sparkle that says “thank you” every day of the year?Visit the Jewelry Liquidation Guru website for hand‑selected diamond pieces—at prices that let you celebrate Mom (or any loved one) without the guilt of overspending.

Because every day is Mother’s Day when you cherish the ones who raised you.