The Origin of Mother’s Day

Have you ever wondered about the origin of Mother’s Day?  The story begins with a daughter’s determination to fulfill her mother’s dream of honoring mothers on a specific day.  In 1907 on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, Anna Jarvis held a small tribute to her mother.  Within two years with the support of others, the memorial quickly spread from Philadelphia to include forty-five states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico.  In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day as a National Holiday to be held the second Sunday in May.

Wearing flowers on Mother’s Day is also credited to Anna Jarvis.  She chose carnations which were her mother’s favorite flower; especially white carnations which represent the purity of a mother’s heart.  A white carnation was to be worn to honor the memory of a deceased mother, or a red carnation to honor a mother who is living.  Some of our eldest friends might still remember this early tradition.  For the rest of us the tradition has become one of sending flowers to the mothers in our lives.