Happy Mother’s Day!

Learn about the history of Mother’s Day

Hallmark staff

Many civilizations have created ways to honor motherhood. In the United States, Anna M. Jarvis, born in 1864 in Webster, (W.) Va., is credited as the force behind Mother’s Day. When Jarvis was 41 years old, her mother died. On the second anniversary of her mother’s death (the second Sunday in May 1908), Jarvis made public her plans to establish a day to honor mothers.

Other sources report “mother’s day” church services on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, W. Va., and a celebration of mothers at the Wannamaker Auditorium in Philadelphia, Pa., on the same day. The observance became official in 1914 when Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation naming the second Sunday of May as a day for “public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.”

Did you know?

Depending on the country, Mother’s Day is celebrated on many different days throughout the year. In the United States, Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in May. In Mexico, it is always celebrated May 10.
Mother’s Day is the second most-popular holiday for gift-giving, following Christmas.
Hallmark began creating and producing Mother’s Day cards in the early 1920s.

Hallmark Mother's Day Cards Through the Years

1920s

What cards lacked in color—in those days, color was hand-applied rather than printed—they made up for in formality.
1930s

A mother’s place was in the kitchen, baking with her little one, in this Mother’s Day greeting.
1930s

Mother’s Day wishes came with a spot of hot tea and some pretty flowers.
1940s

No grande mocha latte for the mom receiving this coffeepot card, which pictured a few of the roles society expected of her in those days.
1940s

A pin cushion, a thimble and other familiar icons of the sewing basket conveyed best wishes for mom.
1950s

Raccoons, bears and cats with human qualities were common greeting card characters in the 1950s in cards for all occasions, including Mother’s Day.
1950s

A gingham-themed tea party shared love for mom in this decade.
1960s

An aproned June Cleaver was stylin’ in her TV kitchen, and so was this card.
1960s

Who taught you how to behave? “Nobody!” says the inside of this rebellious Mother’s Day card. “But I gotta give you credit, Mom. You tried like #($&(”
1960s

Remember that prim and proper 1920s mom? She burst out of her shell in the 1960s!
1970s

Moms from any era can relate to this card acknowledging that household chores rarely take a day—even Mother’s Day—off.
1970s

Office scenes began to appear in 1970s Mother’s Day cards as more women, including women with children, began working outside the home.
1980s

The Mahogany card line debuted in the 1980s, and with it many more choices recognizing African-American moms for Mother’s Day and all occasions.
1990s

“Happy Mother’s Day to Mom, the original seat belt,” says this card for Moms from every decade who know this move.
1990s

“That way you can’t see what we did to the kitchen,” says the message inside this card.
1990s

Mother’s Day isn’t always happy for those who have suffered a loss or are going through difficult days. Some cards started to acknowledge tough times with gentle thoughts and caring.
1990s

It really does take a village, and this card recognized women in a community of caring.
2000s

Moms-to-be could now receive cards for their very first Mother’s Day.
2000s

No baking or sewing images to honor the fashionable 21st century mom!
2010s

It looks like a regular card, but hold this one up to a webcam and watch it come to life through augmented reality technology. A 2010 feature that surely would amaze the mother of 100 years ago!
2010s

Mom isn’t perfect these days. Actually, she never was—we’re just willing to laugh about the challenges in the new millennium.