Mother’s Day: A simple idea that grew into a global celebration

As Mother’s Day approaches across the world, many people are preparing to celebrate with gifts, messages and family time, but the story behind the day goes back more than a century and across different cultures.

The modern celebration began in 1908 in the United States, when Anna Jarvis organised a memorial service to honour her late mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. What started as a personal tribute quickly grew into a national campaign.

Jarvis believed mothers deserved a dedicated day of appreciation, not for material gifts, but for sincere recognition of their sacrifices and care.

She wrote letters, organised events and pushed for official recognition. Her efforts led to a breakthrough in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day a national holiday in the United States, to be marked on the second Sunday in May. From there, the idea spread rapidly to other parts of the world.

However, the roots of honouring mothers go much further back. In ancient Greece, people held festivals for Rhea, the mother of the gods, while in ancient Rome, similar celebrations were held for Cybele.

These were religious events that recognised motherhood as powerful and sacred, even though they were not centred on family appreciation as we see today.

Centuries later, in England, “Mothering Sunday” emerged during the Christian season of Lent. On that day, people returned to their “mother church,” and over time, it became a chance for workers, especially young servants, to visit their mothers and spend time with family.

This tradition brought the celebration closer to home, focusing on family connection and appreciation.

When Anna Jarvis introduced the modern version, she combined these older ideas with a strong personal message. For her, Mother’s Day was meant to be quiet, meaningful and centred on gratitude.

Today, the celebration is observed in many countries, including Ghana, where it is marked with church services, family gatherings, outings and gift-giving. Markets and shops often see increased activity as people prepare to honour their mothers in different ways.

At the same time, the day has become more commercial over the years, something Jarvis herself later criticised. She felt that the focus had shifted from genuine appreciation to the buying of cards and gifts.

Despite this, the core idea of Mother’s Day remains unchanged. It is still about recognising the role mothers play in nurturing families and shaping lives.

As the day draws closer, that message continues to resonate, reminding people that beyond the celebrations and preparations, the true meaning of Mother’s Day lies in simple acts of love and appreciation.