What is the history of Mother's Day and what made the founder turn against it?

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Mother's Day takes place every May, on the second Sunday of the spring month. 

The day is filled with traditions such as holding yummy brunches, gifting flowers and showing appreciation for your mom and all she has done. 

The occasion has been an official holiday in the United States since 1914. 

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Take a look back at how the day came to be — as well as the modern traditions of the occasion. 

Here are three key points to know. 

Mother's Day celebrates moms around the world and what they do for their children each day. (iStock)

1. Who created Mother's Day? 
2. Why did the creator of Mother's Day turn against it? 
3. What are popular Mother's Day traditions in the United States? 

1. Who created Mother's Day?

Mother's Day dates way back to the ancient Greek and Romans, according to History.com. Festivals were held in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, according to the source. 

In the United States, a more modern take on the day began in the early 20th century and was created by peace activist Anna Maria Jarvis in honor of her deceased mother.

After her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died in 1905, Jarvis held a memorial service for her mother in May 1907, according to the BBC.  

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Mother's Day was created by Jarvis, who never had kids of her own, as a way to honor the sacrifices that mothers make for their children, according to History.com. 

The first official Mother's Day events were held at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, in May 1908, according to the source. 

By 1912, many other states had jumped on board with Mother's Day celebrations. In 1914, with the growing popularity of the occasion around the country, President Wilson signed a bill that designated Mother's Day as an official holiday nationwide on the second Sunday of May.

President Wilson made Mother's Day an official U.S. holiday in 1914. (Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

2. Why did the creator of Mother's Day turn against it?

Since its early days, the holiday has become very commercialized. This was one of the main reasons why Jarvis turned against the holiday she founded. 

It became a day highly associated with gift giving, as it still is today, with cards, jewelry and flowers all popular items purchased for the occasion. 

Even though Jarvis started the day, she spent the later years of her life advocating against it. She campaigned against the companies that see profits from the day, according to History.com.

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Jarvis lobbied for the holiday she created to be removed from calendars, according to the source — but her efforts to end the day had no success, as it remains the commercialized holiday it is today. 

Jarvis died on Nov. 24, 1948. 

3. What are popular Mother's Day traditions in the United States? 

Mother's Day is celebrated by countries all over the world. However, in the United States, it is one of the most popular consumer spending holidays of the year. 

In 2024, consumers are expected to spend an average of $254 per person on the holiday, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). The total spending on the holiday is estimated to be $33.5 billion, according to NRF. 

Billions of dollars are spent each year on Mother's Day related expenses, on items such as flowers, cards and jewelry. (iStock)

Restaurants often stay open on Sunday to attract visitors looking to take their mothers or grandmothers out to brunch or lunch. 

Traditionally, people also celebrate Mother's Day in the U.S. by giving their mother's sentimental gifts, flowers or spending time with their families by hosting cookouts in their backyard or at the park. 

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The day precedes Father's Day, which takes place in the U.S. the following month in June every year. 

Phillip Nieto contributed reporting. 

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