10 Fun Facts About Mother’s Day You Might Not Know

10 Fun Facts About Mother’s Day You Might Not Know

Mother is a word that connects us with our emotions, strength, and courage. In this world of diversity, where many countries and religions exist, the relationship between a child and a mother remains constant. Celebrating this special bond, Mother’s Day is observed globally to express love and gratitude towards mothers who sacrifice everything for their children. From buying gifts, and flowers to a vacation or a spa day, people come up with different ideas to make it a special event for their mothers. 

Before you begin preparing to celebrate this significant day with a surprise or special gifts, let's explore the history and facts in depth. Here are ten facts you may not know about Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day was first observed in Philadelphia

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia was the lady who started Mother’s Day to honor her mothers and her work towards society. She held a memorial for her mother on 12th May 1907 and organized the first Mother’s Day in 1908. It was later marked an official U.S. holiday in 1914. 

Protest Against Commercialization

Anna Jarvis was against the commercialization of Mother’s Day. Her vision behind celebrating the day was to honor her mother and acknowledge the role of mothers in a family. Soon after President Woodrow Wilson declared it a public holiday, Jarvis protested and tried to abolish it as a day of public celebration.

The history of Mother’s Day goes back to the Greeks

If we dig deeper, Mother's Day has ancient origins, dating back to the Greek and Roman civilizations. Here, the festivals were held to honor mother goddesses like Rhea and Cybele. Many countries celebrate such religious festivals to worship goddesses, whom they refer to as mothers.

Carnations were the official flowers for Mother’s Day

During the 1940s, carnations were gifted as a sign of love and respect toward mothers. Red carnations were for those who had the blessing of their mothers. Pink was a symbol of appreciation and love. Those who had lost their mothers used white carnations to honor them. 

Flowers are the most popular gift on Mother’s Day

Flowers might be the first thing that comes to mind when choosing a gift for your mother. Statistics show flower sales are highest during Mother’s Day, making them a popular gift option worldwide. 

One of the highest card-sending holidays 

After flowers, cards are the most popular gifts for mothers. More than a million cards are exchanged in the US to celebrate Mother’s Day, making it one of the largest card-sending holidays. 

There is no fixed date for Mother’s Day

Usually, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, and the date may vary by year. However, in the UK and Ireland, it is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is called Mothering Sunday.

Celebrations vary from country to country

While the sentiment behind Mother's Day is universal, celebrations vary from country to country. Some countries have unique customs and traditions associated with the day. There are parades, masquerades, and special events organized for mothers and kids.

A Public Holiday 

Mother’s Day is marked as a public holiday in the US and other countries such as Costa Rica, Georgia, Samoa, and Thailand. However, as the day falls on the second Sunday of May, it is observed as a weekend in many countries. 

Highest Spending Holiday

Mother's Day is one of the biggest spending holidays in the United States, with billions of dollars spent on gifts, meals, and other celebrations each year. Some surveys and studies show that people spend more on Mother’s Day than on Father’s Day.