❤️ What is the origin of Mother's Day?
The modern Mother's Day originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It was Anna Jarvis of West Virginia who established the first official Mother's Day in 1908, in memory of her late mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. Her mother had fought for women's rights, peace and better health care for mothers, especially during and after the American Civil War.
Anna Jarvis wanted to create a moment for Mother's Day where mothers were honored for their daily dedication and unconditional love. Thanks to her tireless campaigning, President Woodrow Wilson officially recognized Mother's Day as a national holiday in the US in 1914, to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. From the United States, the custom quickly spread to other countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium.
In the Netherlands, Mother's Day was first celebrated in the 1920s, and after World War II it became customary to celebrate it on the second Sunday of May. In Belgium, the same date was adopted, although Antwerp had its own version of Mother's Day on August 15 since 1913 – a tradition that is still honored there.
Although Mother's Day often has a commercial connotation these days, the core of the day remains the same: expressing appreciation, love and gratitude to mothers everywhere for their indispensable role.
