Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, May 14th for those of us in the United States. It is a great day to spend with family and appreciate all that Mothers do for us! Below we will examine the history and origins of this unique holiday.

History

Mother’s Day was created in 1908 by Anna Jarvis, but did not officially become a holiday until 1914. Anna was a social activist from West Virginia who had recently lost her own mother. Since Anna started the day of celebration, it has become one of the most commercialized and widespread holidays in America, which isn’t exactly what Jarvis would have wanted. She sought to have a day where it was all about mother’s, mostly due to the fact that mother’s didn’t have much more of a role than staying home and taking care of children at the time. She was noted as not appreciating the commercialization of the day and how it has turned into such a big gift giving event. Jarvis just wanted a day where mothers could spend time with their families where they were the one’s being appreciated for a change. Anna would probably appreciate the overall idea of the day still, but would hate to see the way it has grown into such a money maker.

Mother’s Day Around The World

There have been different days dedicated to the celebration of mother’s dating back to the ancient Roman periods. It is still celebrated around the world, although it is on different days everywhere. In England, the day is celebrated on the last Sunday of Lent, so usually a few weeks before the United States day. In Australia, the day is not nearly what it is in the United States. It follows the same idea of celebrating mother’s, but has not been commercialized to near the extent it has in America. Canada has a huge celebration for Mother’s day each year, it is even said to be the 3rd biggest holiday in the country, behind only Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Mother’s Day in Mexico is celebrated each year on May 10th, making it one of the only places that has a fixed day it falls on each year. Finally, in Japan it is customary to wake up very early on Mother’s Day to prepare a celebration and wish their mother a happy day. America, as with many things, certainly has the most commercialized version of Mother’s Day in the world.

No matter where you are in the world, there is never a bad time or place to celebrate Mother’s. With all they do for those around them, they deserve a day that is all about them. So this Mother’s Day focus more on appreciating all that Mother’s do rather than worrying so much about a gift. Celebrate the way the holiday was intended to be celebrated by Anna Jarvis all those years ago.