conflicting accounts of the history of Mother’s Day


The United States and Canada celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. Over forty-six countries around the globe also recognize Mother's Day. England for instance, celebrates it on the fourth Sunday of Lent. International Mother’s Day is always celebrated on May 11. The U.S. even sets aside the fourth Sunday in October for Mother-in-Law Day.


The First Mother's Day

There are conflicting accounts of the history of Mother’s Day. One account says that Juliet Calhoun Blakeley initiated the first known Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan. On May 11, 1877, the local pastor's son was found drunk in the street. That Sunday, May 13 (Juliet’s birthday), the pastor was too upset to lead the service. Juliet took the pulpit and asked other mothers to join her.

Juliet’s sons were so moved by their mother’s gesture that they returned home every year to pay tribute to her, and urged others to honor their mothers on the same date. Because of the brothers' actions, the Methodist Church in Albion followed suit and set aside the second Sunday in May to honor all mothers.

Most sources give the credit for Mother’s Day to Anna M. Jarvis. It is generally agreed that the first Mother’s Day celebration took place in 1907, in a tiny church in West Virginia when Anna Jarvis arranged a special service to pay tribute to her mother. Seven years later, President Wilson declared Mother’s Day a national holiday.

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Engr.Aftab