Mother’s Day: Celebrating the First Influencer

It is the busiest day of the year for restaurants and the single biggest day for phone calls. Mother’s Day is the global moment we pause to honor the women who raised us, shaped us, and often put up with us during our teenage years.

What is Mother’s Day?

While festivals honoring mother goddesses date back to ancient Greece and Rome, the modern American version was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908. She campaigned for a day to honor the sacrifices mothers made for their children.

Interestingly, Jarvis later spent her life fighting against the commercialization of the holiday, dismayed that people were buying printed cards instead of writing personal letters. Today, the holiday has expanded beyond biological mothers to include grandmothers, stepmothers, foster moms, and mentors who have played a maternal role.

When is it?

In the United States, Canada, Australia, and dozens of other countries, it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

• In 2026: It falls on May 10.

• (Note: The UK celebrates "Mothering Sunday" earlier, on March 15, 2026, while many Arab countries celebrate on the Spring Equinox in March).

How is it Typically Celebrated?

Traditions are almost entirely centered on pampering and appreciation:

1. The Carnation Tradition Anna Jarvis’s mother loved carnations, and they became the official flower of the holiday.

• Pink/Red Carnations: Worn to honor a living mother.

• White Carnations: Worn in memory of a mother who has passed away.

• (Today, however, bouquets of all types are common).

2. The "Breakfast in Bed" Ritual This is the classic rite of passage for young children (often resulting in a messy kitchen for Dad to clean up). It symbolizes a reversal of roles, where the person who usually feeds the family is the one being served.

3. Brunch and Quality Time For adult children, the standard celebration is a family brunch or dinner. It is a day where no mom should have to cook. Gifts usually focus on relaxation (spa days), sentiment (photo albums), or hobbies (gardening tools).

Ultimately, Mother’s Day is about recognition. It is a day to say "I see what you do, and I thank you for it."