Who Created The American Tradition Of Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day has become a staple in American tradition and culture as children, spouses, and other loved ones show their appreciation and thanks to the women in their lives who mean the most to them. But who exactly can be credited with the creation of this special day?

The founder of Mother’s Day in the United States was a woman by the name of Anna Jarvis, who dedicated her life to honoring the memory of her own mother, Ann Reese Jarvis. Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains, Anna and her family were very close; her mother was a church leader and a passionate humanitarian who was passionate about battlefield and street nursing during the American Civil War. Ann’s death in 1905 laid the groundwork for Anna to launch her mission to create a special day to remember her mother and recognize the great contributions of mother’s everywhere.

In 1908, Anna held the first official Mother’s Day celebration at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia; it was the late Ann’s church. This first gathering saw a crowd of over 400 people coming together to remember their mothers and show appreciation for their sacrifices and love. Anna spent the next several years lobbying for a national holiday dedicated to motherhood, a cause for which she received support from then-President Woodrow Wilson. On May 9th, 1914, Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in order to recognize the contribution of mothers.

Anna’s true legacy is not only her incredible commitment to her mother’s memory, but the fact that it created an American tradition that celebrates motherhood year after year. Since that first Mother’s Day celebration more than 100 years ago, millions of people have remembered and honored their mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, and many more. Without the tireless efforts of Anna Jarvis, this amazing holiday would not exist today.