Mother’s Day 2025: Love, Legacy, and the Woman Who Raised You

A Celebration of Love, Strength, and Sacrifice

I don’t mean to offend the Peace Corps but the phrase The toughest job you’ll ever love is more fitting for motherhood, a constantly evolving and often frustrating job. Mothers don’t receive generous pensions or beautiful salaries nor do they get days off. Their rewards instead take the shape of sticky kisses, elbow macaroni necklaces and the joy of watching their kids become content healthy adults. That’s probably not enough to make up for it, so on Mother’s Day which falls on the second Sunday in May, give Mom a special gift or an extra hug just in case and follow our guide to giving back. 

What Date Is Mother’s Day in 2025?

On May 9 Mothers Day we honor and celebrate the unique and beautiful bond of love that exists between mothers and children. 

Background of Mothers Day

In ancient times the Greeks and Romans celebrated the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele with festivals. The modern forerunner however is the early Christian holiday known as Mothering Sunday. During the fourth Sunday of Lent this European custom was observed. Many thought that on this day the faithful would attend a special service at their mother church which is the main church close to their homes. Over time Mothering Sunday evolved into a more secular celebration in which kids would present their moms with gifts and flowers. In the 1930s and 1940s this tradition would become part of Mothers Day in the United States. 

In 1872 American poet and writer Julia Ward Howe the author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic was appointed editor of Woman’s Journal a popular suffragist publication. She penned what would become known as the Mothers Day Proclamation at that time an Appeal to womanhood throughout the world. The declaration urged women to fight for global peace in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and the American Civil War. Howe then made an unsuccessful attempt on June 2 to begin a Mothers Day celebration. Howe proposed celebrating Mothers Day on July 4 every year twenty years later. This didn’t work out either but it did pave the way for another attempt. 

Mothers Day was successfully started by Anna Jarvis following the death of her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis in 1905. In order for each family to honor its own mother rather than all mothers Jarvis pointed out that Mothers Day should include a singular possessive (thus the apostrophe). In May 1908 Jarvis – who was single and childless – planned the first Mothers Day celebration. John Wanamaker, the owner of a department store in Philadelphia contributed money to the cause. Thousands of people showed up for a Mothers Day event at one of Wanamakers stores that same month. 

Soon after Jarvis pushed for Mothers Day to be declared a national holiday hoping that well-known Americans would support the cause. By 1912 Mothers Day had become a yearly celebration in many states, towns and churches. In addition Jarvis founded the International Mothers Day Association. Soon after in 1914 President Wilson declared the second Sunday in May to be Mothers Day. In the early 1920s Hallmark started offering Mothers Day cards for sale.

Jarvis eventually came to dislike the holiday’s commercial appeal after her hard-won love affair with it ended. The idea of a national day soured as greeting card companies and florists started to profit and she urged people to stop purchasing candies, flowers and cards. Jarvis used the majority of her personal fortune to pay lawyers to bring legal action against organizations that used the phrase Mothers Day. She even made an attempt to convince the federal government to take it off the calendar.

Timeline of Mother’s Day

• 1868 A Peacemaker was the First

Ann Jarvis established Mothers Friendship Day to encourage camaraderie among mothers during the Civil War. 

• 1908 Keeping the Tradition Going

Anna Reeves Jarvis Ann’s daughter creates a day of observance for her own mother. 

• 1914 Officially it was Made

Anna Jarvis declared the second Sunday in May to be Mothers Day and President Woodrow Wilson signed legislation making the day a national holiday. 

• 2018 Mother my Love

On Mothers Day $23 billion is spent on dinners and gifts. 

Mother’s Day Around the World

Country	Holiday	Occasion	Date
Russia	International Women’s Day	Russians celebrate International Women’s Day to honor all women including mothers.	March 8
Mexico	Mother’s Day	Mothers Day is very important to Mexicans. It is the busiest day of the week and there will be plenty of flowers, delicious food and good music.	May 10
Japan	Haha no Hi	Haha no Hi, also known as Mothers Day in Japan, was originally observed on the Empress Kōjuns birthday before being shifted to the second Sunday in May.	Second Sunday in May
Egypt	Mother’s Day	In many Arab nations including Egypt Mothers Day is observed on the first day of spring.	March 21
Thailand	Mother’s Day	Mothers Day is observed on August 12 in honor of Queen Sirikit’s birthday.	August 12

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Traditions of the Day

On Mothers Day mothers receive some royal treatment in return for their unwavering love and selfless sacrifices. Think presents breakfast in bed hand-drawn cards with stickers, a shopping spree or spa day the works! Today is the perfect day to spoil the queen of the home herself.

The most popular customs of the day include the children and father taking care of the cooking and housework for the day, spending more time with mom and giving her customary presents like jewelry flowers or something she has been eyeing for a long time. Numerous shops and eateries are offering fantastic sales and discounts in addition to exclusive offers for mothers. All day long Mothers Day-related movies and shows, talk shows and segments with famous mothers are broadcast. Talking about celebrities, social media is awash with pictures of mothers because they are the stars of the day.

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Activities for Mother’s Day

• Unity

Have you ever noticed that your mother consistently claims she doesn’t want pricey gifts? Trust her. She simply wants to spend time with you. This may sound cliche but its still true. Thus arrange a picnic or go hiking. Either hit the town or assist her in the garden. Mom will take more pleasure in the QT than any material gift even if it’s no more inventive than a large bowl of popcorn and a GOT marathon. 

• Give her Some Attention

Pull her out. Get Mom a few mimosas at a fantastic restaurant. There are countless options for lunch and dinner if you plan to take her out later. Organize in advance. Set up a reservation. Recall that you are now an adult. 

• Hold On

It is an act of love to listen. In light of that stop discussing your personal issues and instead listen to her discuss her life, her goals or her best memories. Gather the family and share stories if you have siblings!

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