On the Day May 8 1914

Mother's Day Observed

Khen Lim




Image source: jaspercare.com

When Mrs Anna Reeves Jarvis passed away in 1905, the Sunday school superintendent of her Grafton church asked her daughter to help in putting up a memorial for her mother whose influence was now sorely missed.

Anna M Jarvis who also taught in a Methodist Sunday school in Grafton, West Virginia was very attached to her mother. That request had gotten her thinking about how children did not do enough to honour their mothers when they were still alive. Of course, by the time they were gone, it would be too late.

Two years later on the anniversary of her mother’s passing, Grafton held a special service on the second Sunday of May, 1907. A year after that, Ana decided to convince her own church in Philadelphia to stage a Mother’s Day service on May 10 and to add that special touch, she decorated the church using white carnations, which were her mother’s favourite.

First Mother's Day in May 1908 (Image source: retrokimmer.com)

Following the event, she spread the idea of making it a nationwide affair by enlisting friends to help push the effort. Thousands of letters were sent. Many interviews were held. And slowly but surely, the reality of a national Mother’s Day was slowly but surely crystallising. All it took was for the government to officially recognise it.

Six years of effort finally paid off. On May 8 1914, the two houses of the United States Congress passed the bill to nationally recognise Mother’s Day as an official event. 

On May 9 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it, saying, “Now, therefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the said Joint Resolution do hereby direct the government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings and do invite the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”

Anna Jarvis' memorial service for her mother (Image source: parowanfhc.org)

Mother’s Day is today celebrated not just in America but beyond on the same second Sunday of May every year even in secular countries. While flags continue to be a visible part of American homes celebrating Mother’s Day, it is more recognisable by way of well-wishing cards, gifts, bouquets, hugs, thank you’s and family dinners at home or in restaurants. 

Thanks to Ana Jarvis, mothers today have a special day in which they can enjoy their well-deserved accolades from their children.