Mother’s Day, celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May, is a global occasion dedicated to honouring mothers and maternal figures for their love, sacrifice and care. Behind this widely celebrated day is the story of Anna Jarvis, who first worked to create it and later fought to protect its original meaning.
Born in 1864 in West Virginia, Anna Jarvis was inspired by her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who worked for better health and sanitation in communities. After her mother’s death in 1905, she started campaigning to create a special day dedicated to mothers.
Who was Anna Jarvis
As per WION reports, Anna Jarvis was born in Webster, Taylor County, West Virginia, in 1864 and was the ninth of eleven children. She was inspired by her mother’s work in organising “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to improve health and hygiene.
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The first Mother’s Day celebration
After her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis aimed to honour her mother’s work by organising “Mothers' Day Work Clubs” to improve health and sanitation in Appalachia. In 1908, she organised the first official Mother’s Day service at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia, where white carnations were used as a symbol.
Recognition as a national holiday
As per WION reports, in 1914, US President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother’s Day a national holiday to be observed on the second Sunday of May.
Her fight against commercialization
Anna Jarvis aimed for Mother’s Day to remain a personal occasion focused on sentimental, heartfelt handwritten letters rather than gifts. She strongly opposed the commercialisation of the day, referring to companies exploiting it as “trade vandals” and even filing lawsuits to protect her original vision. She died in 1948 in a Pennsylvania sanitarium, penniless after spending much of her fortune on campaigns against the commercialization of the holiday she created, with rumours that a florist helped pay her medical bills. Jarvis never married and had no children, a detail often mentioned in accounts of her life.
Later life and legacy
She spent much of her fortune fighting against the commercialisation of the holiday she created and died in 1948 in a Pennsylvania sanitarium. It is also noted that she never married and had no children.
Significance of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a globally recognised annual celebration that honours mothers, maternal bonds and the important role of maternal figures in families and society. It is a special day meant to show gratitude for the unconditional love, sacrifices and care that mothers and other caregivers provide. It also highlights their key role in shaping individuals and supporting communities.
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The day acknowledges the sacrifices, sleepless nights and constant dedication mothers often make, frequently prioritising their families over their own. It honours all maternal figures – mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers and guardians – who nurture and guide. It also recognises the role of mothers in raising future generations and their overall contribution to society.
Today, Mother’s Day continues to be observed worldwide, recognising the contribution of mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers and guardians in families and society.
