05 May The Origin Of Mother’s Day

The Origin of Mother’s Day- Written by Kayce Dallas, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern

Mother’s Day is a holiday celebrating motherhood and is observed throughout the world. India hosts a 10–day festival to honor the goddess of mothers. Japan gives carnations out to mothers. The United Kingdom hands out daffodils and girls bake a fruitcake for their mothers. What are your favorite Mother’s Day traditions?  

Did you know that Mother’s Day was first celebrated in Kentucky? Mary Towles Sasseen Wilson is recognized as the first person to celebrate Mother’s Day in 1887 in Henderson, Kentucky. Saseen was a teacher and had a strong bond with her mother. Her love for her mother led her to start her classroom’s first observance of Mother’s Day. Afterward, she traveled around the country promoting the idea of Mother’s Day as a national holiday. On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.  

Mother’s Day makes people remember the importance and the significance of mothers in their life. What are you planning on doing for Mother’s Day?