The History of Mother’s Day

The modern Mother’s Day holiday was first celebrated in the United States in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Jarvis never intended for her private memorial to become a national holiday, but its popularity soon grew. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

While the holiday was originally created to honor mothers, it has since evolved into a celebration of all women who have children. Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in countries all over the world, and is an important day for businesses that cater to mothers and families.

While the origins of Mother’s Day are somewhat murky, the holiday has been celebrated for centuries in a number of cultures. The ancient Greeks held a festival to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods, while the Romans celebrated a holiday called Hilaria, which honored Cybele, the mother of all gods and goddesses.

The early Christians also celebrated a holiday called the Mothering Sunday, which was observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This holiday honored the Virgin Mary.