Mother’s Day is celebrated in over 40 countries around the world, but the exact date is not universal. While many countries observe it in May, others celebrate in March, October, or even August, depending on cultural and historical traditions.

The modern version of Mother’s Day in the United States began in 1908 when Anna Jarvis organized the first official celebration at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, turning a personal tribute into a national movement. Anna Jarvis eventually came to resent the holiday because she believed it had become too commercialized and lost its original meaning. She originally intended Mother’s Day to be a quiet, personal holiday focused on handwritten letters and heartfelt appreciation rather than gifts or store bought cards.

Before it became an official holiday, Mother’s Day was rejected by the U.S. Congress in 1908, with some lawmakers joking that they would also have to create a Mother in law’s Day.

Mother’s Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing it on the second Sunday in May.

The spelling “Mother’s Day” was intentionally chosen by Anna Jarvis to be singular possessive, emphasizing that each family should honor its own mother rather than celebrating all mothers collectively.

Carnations became the official flower of Mother’s Day because Anna Jarvis distributed them at the first celebration, and they later became widely associated with the holiday.

In the early 1920s, the commercialization of Mother’s Day began to grow rapidly, with companies selling cards, flowers, and gifts, much to Anna Jarvis’s frustration. She even organized boycotts and threatened legal action against companies she believed were exploiting Mother’s Day for profit. In 1923, she protested at a candy makers’ convention in Philadelphia, showing just how strongly she opposed the commercialization of the holiday. During one protest in 1925, Anna Jarvis was arrested for disturbing the peace while demonstrating against groups selling carnations for fundraising.

The idea of honoring mothers is much older than the modern holiday, with ancient Greeks celebrating mother goddesses like Rhea and Romans holding festivals such as Hilaria.

In medieval Europe, a tradition called Mothering Sunday involved people returning to their “mother church,” which later influenced modern celebrations in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day is still closely tied to Mothering Sunday and is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent rather than in May.

Some countries have blended older traditions with modern Mother’s Day customs, creating unique versions of the holiday that reflect both history and religion.

In Greece, Mother’s Day has connections to the Eastern Orthodox celebration of the presentation of Jesus at the temple, showing how religious traditions influence the holiday.

In many Catholic countries, Mother’s Day is associated with honoring the Virgin Mary, linking motherhood to religious devotion.

In Islam, while there is no official Mother’s Day, teachings emphasize deep respect for mothers, including the well known saying that paradise lies at a mother’s feet.

In Hindu tradition, a celebration similar to Mother’s Day called Mata Tirtha Aunshi has been observed for centuries, especially in Nepal.

In the United States, Mother’s Day quickly became one of the biggest holidays for buying flowers, greeting cards, and gifts.

Mother’s Day is also one of the most popular days of the year for dining out, with restaurants often seeing a major increase in business.

Church attendance in the United States is higher on Mother’s Day than most other days of the year, second only to major holidays like Christmas and Easter.

White carnations are often worn to honor mothers who have passed away, while colored carnations are worn to celebrate living mothers.

Some countries celebrate Mother’s Day on dates tied to historical events, such as Bolivia, which observes it on May 27 to honor women who fought in a battle.

In Mexico, Mother’s Day is always celebrated on May 10, regardless of the day of the week, making it one of the few countries with a fixed date.

In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated on August 12, the birthday of Queen Sirikit.

In Ethiopia, Mother’s Day is part of a multi day festival called Antrosht, where families gather for feasts and celebrations after the rainy season.

In Japan, red carnations are the most common gift for Mother’s Day, symbolizing love and gratitude.

In Australia, white chrysanthemums are commonly given because the holiday falls in autumn there and these flowers are in season.

In France, Mother’s Day was once used to encourage larger families, and medals were even awarded to mothers with many children.

During World War II, governments in some countries used Mother’s Day to promote national values and ideals about family and motherhood.

In Germany during the Nazi era, Mother’s Day was heavily promoted and even included awards for mothers based on the number of children they had.

In Indonesia, Mother’s Day originally focused on women’s rights and national development rather than just celebrating motherhood.

In some countries, failing to acknowledge Mother’s Day is considered highly disrespectful, while in others it remains a minor or less known observance.

In Canada, Mother’s Day traditions are very similar to those in the United States, including gift giving and family gatherings, even though it is not a public holiday.

In many parts of the world, children often create handmade gifts or cards for their mothers at school as part of the celebration.

In Belgium, it is common for children to prepare breakfast in bed for their mothers, often with the help of their fathers.

In some cultures, Mother’s Day includes giving mothers a full day off from household responsibilities as a sign of appreciation.