Mother's Day facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mother's Day |
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Maternal Admiration, painted by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
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| Observed by | 40+ countries |
| Type | Worldwide |
| Significance | Honors mothers and motherhood |
| Date | Varies per country |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to |
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Mother's Day is a special day to celebrate and honor mothers, motherhood, and the important role mothers play in our lives and in society. It's a day to show appreciation for all the love, care, and support mothers give. This holiday is celebrated on different days around the world, often in March or May. It's like other family celebrations, such as Father's Day and Grandparents' Day.
The modern idea of Mother's Day in the United States started in the early 1900s. A woman named Anna Jarvis worked hard to make it a recognized holiday. She organized the first Mother's Day church service and celebration in Grafton, West Virginia. Today, that church is known as the International Mother's Day Shrine. While many cultures have honored mothers for thousands of years, Anna Jarvis's efforts led to the specific holiday we know today.
Anna Jarvis believed that the holiday should be about showing heartfelt thanks. However, over time, some people felt that Mother's Day became too focused on buying gifts. Anna Jarvis herself was sad about this commercialism, as it wasn't her original idea. In other English-speaking countries, a similar celebration called Mothering Sunday (which has older roots) also honors mothers.
How Mother's Day Became a Holiday
The first modern Mother's Day celebration happened in 1908. Anna Jarvis held a special church service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her journey to make Mother's Day a national holiday began in 1905, after her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, passed away.
Anna's mother was a peace activist. She helped wounded soldiers during the American Civil War and started "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to improve public health. She and another activist, Julia Ward Howe, dreamed of a "Mother's Day For Peace." They wanted mothers to ask for an end to wars. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother's work and create a day to celebrate all mothers. She felt that a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world."
In 1908, the U.S. Congress didn't want to make Mother's Day a holiday. But Anna Jarvis kept working hard. By 1911, all U.S. states observed the day. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a paper making Mother's Day a national holiday. It was set for the second Sunday in May.
Even though Anna Jarvis succeeded, she became upset with how commercial the holiday became. Companies like Hallmark Cards started selling many Mother's Day cards and gifts. Jarvis felt that these companies were changing the true meaning of the day. She believed people should show love and thanks through handwritten letters, not just by buying things. She even protested against the commercialization of the holiday.
In Britain, a woman named Constance Adelaide Smith helped bring back Mothering Sunday. This was an older Christian celebration where people visited their main church. She connected it to honoring the Mother Church, mothers at home, Mary, mother of Jesus, and Mother Nature. Her efforts helped make it popular in the British Isles.
How to Spell "Mother's Day"
In 1912, Anna Jarvis made sure the spelling of "Mother's Day" was correct. She said it should be "Mother's" (singular possessive). This means it's a day for each family to honor its own mother. It's not "Mothers' Day" (plural possessive), which would mean celebrating all mothers in the world at once. This is the spelling used by U.S. presidents and in official documents.
Mother's Day Around the World
Many countries around the world celebrate Mother's Day. While some adopted the idea from the United States, others already had their own traditions for honoring mothers. These celebrations often have different meanings and are held on different dates.
For example, in the United Kingdom, people celebrate Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday in Lent. In many Arab countries, Mother's Day is on 21 March, the first day of spring. Bolivia celebrates Mother's Day on 27 May, remembering a battle where women bravely participated. In Thailand, Mother's Day is on 12 August, the birthday of their Queen Mother.
Sometimes, countries that already had a day for mothers added new customs from the U.S. holiday, like giving flowers. The way Mother's Day is celebrated can be very different from one country to another. In some places, it's a very important day, while in others, it's a smaller celebration.
Religious Traditions for Mothers
Many religions have special ways to honor mothers.
- In some Christian traditions, Mother's Day is linked to honoring the Virgin Mary. Families might have a special place in their home dedicated to her.
- In Islam, mothers are highly respected. The Prophet Muhammad said, "The Paradise is beneath mother's feet." The Quran, the holy book of Muslims, also teaches children to love and respect their mothers.
- In Hindu tradition, there's a festival called "Mata Tirtha Aunshi" or "Mother Pilgrimage New Moon." It's celebrated in countries like Nepal and involves honoring mothers with special foods. This tradition is much older than the modern Mother's Day.
- In Buddhism, the festival of Ullambana comes from a story about a monk named Maudgalyayana and his mother.
Mother's Day in Different Countries
Mother's Day traditions vary greatly across the globe.
- In Germany, Mother's Day is on the second Sunday in May. In the past, the government encouraged the holiday to promote motherhood and larger families. Awards called "Mother's Cross" were given to mothers with many children.
- In Mexico, "Día de las Madres" is celebrated on 10 May. Families often start the day with the song "Las Mañanitas" and gather to spend time together, often sharing a meal.
- In Japan, Mother's Day (Haha no Hi) is on the second Sunday of May. People often give red carnations or roses to their mothers.
- In Indonesia, Mother's Day (Hari Ibu) is on 22 December. It celebrates the spirit of Indonesian women and is a day to show love and gratitude to mothers, often by giving gifts or letting mothers relax from chores.
- In South Korea, they celebrate Parents' Day (Eobeoinal) on 8 May. This day honors both mothers and fathers, and people often give carnations and spend time with their parents.
Images for kids
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Northern Pacific Railway postcard for Mother's Day 1916.
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Mother's Day gift in 2007
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Mother and daughter and Mother's Day card
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Mother's Day cake in Germany
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Mother's Day breakfast in Finland
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Mother's Day cookie cake
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Commemorative gold medal issued in the Pahlavi era on the occasion of Mother's Day, dated 1975. Obv: Bust of Empress Farah Pahlavi. Rev: Mother and children standing around a seated Farah Pahlavi, holding open book
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Celebration of the Mother's Day in Iran
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Balloons outside, in the week before Mother's Day 2008
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Prince Harry, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden helping children create Mother's Day cards at the White House, 9 May 2013
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Handmade Mother's Day gifts
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See also
In Spanish: Día de la Madre para niños
