GREENSBORO, N.C. — The first time this day was observed in the United States was at a church service held in 1907 by Anna M. Jarvis. Jarvis was a Philadelphia schoolteacher who wanted a day to honor her own mother.
During that ceremony, Anna handed out her mother's favorite flowers: white carnations. The flowers represent sweetness, purity, and patience.
Anna continued to solicit the help of legislators and prominent business men with the hopes of making Mother's Day a national holiday. Her efforts paid off when in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared that the second Sunday in May would be Mother's Day.
Of course, gifts are often associated with the day, as people shower their mothers with jewelry, clothes, gift cards, and meals. The National Retail Federation estimates people will spend around $25 billion on Mother's Day this year, up from $23.1 billion last year. Ten years ago in 2009, people spent just $14.1 billion
Wishing all the moms a very Happy Mother's Day from WFMY News 2!
