When is Mother’s Day?

Why do we observe it?

Anna Jarvis’s early 20th-century campaign helped establish the U.S. observance; a 1914 proclamation set it on the second Sunday in May.

Traditions and celebrations

Families may share a meal, flowers, cards or time together.

Planning tips

Make reservations early and choose a celebration that fits the person you are honoring.

Is it a federal holiday?

No. It is a widely observed occasion, but it is not a U.S. federal holiday. School and business schedules depend on local policies.

Is it a bank holiday? What’s open and closed

Mother’s Day always falls on a Sunday, so the usual weekend closures apply; it is not a federal holiday, so it has no effect on weekday business hours in the days around it. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment.

The history behind the day

The modern American Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis, who held the first official observance in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, a peace activist. President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing it as a national holiday in 1914, fixing it on the second Sunday in May.

Ironically, Jarvis spent much of her later life fighting the commercialization of the holiday she created, going so far as to publicly protest the greeting card and flower industries that had built businesses around it.

How it’s marked across the country

Today it’s one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, florists, and phone calls in the U.S. Common traditions include brunch, flowers, handmade cards from children, and family gatherings honoring mothers, grandmothers and mother figures.

One thing you might not know

Mother’s Day generates more phone calls in the U.S. than any other day of the year, according to long-standing telecom industry data.

How the U.S. observance took shape

Anna Jarvis organized a 1908 memorial service honoring her mother in West Virginia. Her campaign helped establish a national observance, and President Woodrow Wilson’s 1914 proclamation called for the second Sunday in May to be observed as Mother’s Day.

It is an occasion for many kinds of families. Some people honor a mother, grandmother, foster parent, caregiver or other person who has played a maternal role. Others find the day difficult; a thoughtful invitation leaves room for people to choose how they participate.

A planning timeline

Two to four weeks ahead, ask whether the person would prefer time together, a quiet day, a call or a meal. Book popular restaurants and travel early. A week ahead, check delivery cutoffs if sending flowers or a card.

On the day, make the practical work part of the gift: arrange transport, handle the reservation and let the guest of honor choose the pace. Schools, stores and restaurants may have different hours, even though this is not a federal holiday.

Mother’s Day planning checklist

• Three to four weeks ahead: reserve popular brunches, activities or travel.
• Ten days ahead: order personalized or shipped gifts with delivery time to spare.
• One week ahead: coordinate siblings, transportation and any accessibility needs.
• The day before: confirm restaurant, florist and attraction hours.