Mother's Day Countdown

Mother's Day in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries is celebrated on the second Sunday of May each year. It is a day to honor mothers and mother figures — including grandmothers, stepmothers, and anyone who has filled a maternal role — with gifts, cards, flowers, and quality time. The modern American Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis, who organized the first official celebration on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia, in memory of her own mother Ann Jarvis — a peace activist who had organized 'Mother's Day Work Clubs' to improve sanitary conditions during and after the Civil War. Anna Jarvis campaigned tirelessly to make Mother's Day a national holiday, which was declared by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914. Ironically, Jarvis later became a vocal critic of the holiday's commercialization, calling greeting card companies 'profit mongers.' Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year for restaurant dining in the US and one of the top three for flower purchases (along with Valentine's Day and Easter). Approximately 84% of Americans celebrate Mother's Day, spending an average of $245 per person on gifts including flowers, jewelry, dining out, and spa services. The date of Mother's Day varies by country: the UK celebrates Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent (in March), while Norway observes it on the second Sunday of February. Despite different dates, the sentiment of honoring maternal figures is universal.

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