History of Mother's Day

Mother's Day is celebrated the second Sunday in May. Mother's Day was originally an idea conceived of as a memorial day for mothers by Anna Jarvis. Ms. Jarvis, having lost her own mother, began a crusade in West Virginia and the day was officially recognized in some states as early as 1912.

In 1914 President Wilson declared the first Mother's Day honoring mother's who had lost a son at war.

Mother's Day was originally closely, though informally, tied to church service. Early in the history of the holiday it was customary to wear a flower signifying the status of ones own mother to church; a red carnation if your mother was living and a white if she were deceased.

Later it became more popular to send cards, then gifts and flowers. Not many years after she conceived of the holiday Ms. Jarvis was opposed to it because it had become too commercial and she felt the meaning of the holiday was lost.

Today, Mother's Day is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. It is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, card stores and florists.

The Society of American Florists reports Mother's Day purchases based upon data collected from a national survey. Partial results are: Of fresh flowers purchased for Mother's Day:

• Mixed flowers (42%)
• Roses (33%)
• Carnations (10%)
• Orchids (2%)
• Chrysanthemums/daisies (1%)
• Lilies (1%)
• Other single flower types (11%)

Of bedding/garden plants purchased for Mother's Day:

• Geraniums (15%)
• Impatiens (15%)
• Petunias (12%)
• Other - additional breakdown not available (58%)  

Of flowering houseplants purchased for Mother's Day:

• Azaleas (12%)
• African violets (5%)
• Lilies (5%)
• Chrysanthemums (3%)
• Other - additional breakdown not available (75%)

Who's buying for Mother's Day?

34% of women and 40% of men made flower and plant purchases for Mother's Day 2007.

For whom are they buying?

• Mother (58%)
• Spouse/significant other (30%)
• Mother-in-law (20%)
• Self (9%)
• Sister (6%)
• Friend (6%)
• Other relative/other (19%)

Shop from Our Mother's Day Gift Collection