To Honor Motherhood

To honor the sacrifices mothers made for their children, Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration in West Virginia in 1908.

While arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. Jarvis also established the Mother’s Day International Association to promote her cause.

Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. By the time of Anna Jarvis’s death, over 40 countries observed Mother’s Day.

Big hugs and thanks to Moms everywhere!