Mother's Day facts make good card lines, dinner conversation and classroom trivia. This list has 20, each with a source. It covers how the holiday started, how much Americans spend, how other countries celebrate and a few numbers about moms themselves.
Mother's Day 2027 falls on Sunday, May 9. In the United States it is always the second Sunday in May.
Mother's Day facts at a glance
| Fact | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First official celebration | May 10, 1908, Grafton, West Virginia | Library of Congress |
| National holiday signed | May 9, 1914, by Woodrow Wilson | Library of Congress |
| U.S. spending in 2025 | $34.1 billion | National Retail Federation |
| Adults who celebrated in 2025 | 84% | National Retail Federation |
| Average spent per person in 2025 | $259.04 | National Retail Federation |
| Mother's Day 2027 | Sunday, May 9 | Second Sunday in May |
Facts about the history of Mother's Day
1. Anna Jarvis started the modern holiday
Anna Jarvis created Mother's Day to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who died in 1905. The first official service was held at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908 (Library of Congress).
2. Woodrow Wilson made it national in 1914
President Woodrow Wilson signed the legislation on May 9, 1914. The first national Mother's Day followed the next day, May 10, 1914, according to the Library of Congress.
3. It is always the second Sunday in May
The 1914 law set the date as the second Sunday in May. That is why the date moves each year: May 10 in 2026 and May 9 in 2027.
4. The white carnation was the first symbol
Anna Jarvis chose the white carnation, her mother's favorite flower, as the holiday's emblem. Today many people wear a red or pink carnation for a living mother and a white one in memory.
5. Its founder turned against it
Anna Jarvis spent much of her later life protesting how commercial the holiday became, starting with florists. The Library of Congress notes that her protests led to arrests for public disturbances.
6. It is not a "Hallmark holiday"
Greeting card companies did not invent Mother's Day. It came from Anna Jarvis's campaign and an act of Congress.
Fun facts about Mother's Day spending
The facts below come from the National Retail Federation's 2025 survey of 7,948 U.S. adults (NRF).
7. Americans planned to spend $34.1 billion in 2025
That was up from $33.5 billion in 2024.
8. The record year was 2023
Mother's Day spending peaked at $35.7 billion in 2023, according to NRF.
9. 84% of adults celebrate
More than eight in ten U.S. adults said they planned to celebrate Mother's Day in 2025.
10. The average celebrant spends about $259
The exact figure was $259.04 per person, about $5 more than in 2024.
11. Flowers are the most popular gift
74% of shoppers planned to buy flowers. Greeting cards came a close second at 73%.
12. 61% plan a meal out
Dinner, brunch or another special outing was on the list for 61% of celebrants, worth $6.3 billion in total.
13. Jewelry brings in the most money
Fewer people buy jewelry than flowers, but it costs more. Jewelry spending reached $6.8 billion, the largest single category in the 2025 survey.
How the world celebrates Mother's Day
14. The UK celebrates in March
Britain marks Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday in Lent. In 2027 it falls on March 7.
15. Mexico always uses May 10
Mexico celebrates Día de las Madres on May 10 every year, no matter the day of the week.
16. Thailand celebrates in August
Thailand's Mother's Day is August 12, the birthday of Queen Mother Sirikit.
17. Many countries share the U.S. date
Canada and Australia are among the countries that also celebrate on the second Sunday in May.
Fun facts about moms
These figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Mother's Day release (Census Bureau). The data years are listed with each fact.
18. 43.5 million mothers
In 2014, 43.5 million women ages 15 to 50 in the U.S. were mothers.
19. Most new moms work
In 2015, 62.4% of women ages 16 to 50 who had given birth in the past year were in the labor force.
20. Florists are fewer than before
The U.S. had 13,419 florist shops in 2015, down 36.5% from 21,135 in 2005. Order Mother's Day flowers early.
How to use these Mother's Day facts
Add one fact to a card, read a few aloud at brunch or turn the list into a trivia game for kids. The history facts work well for a classroom lesson the week before the holiday.
For a gift that lasts longer than flowers, browse our personalized embroidered gifts. For words to send to mom, read our good morning quotes about love and Merry Christmas quotes for family.
Frequently asked questions
When is Mother's Day 2027?
Sunday, May 9, 2027. In the U.S., Mother's Day is always the second Sunday in May.
Who started Mother's Day?
Anna Jarvis, to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. The first official service was in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908.
What is Mother's Day about?
It is a day to thank mothers and mother figures. Families often give flowers or cards, share a meal and spend time together.
Is Mother's Day a Hallmark holiday?
No. It began with Anna Jarvis's campaign and became national when President Wilson signed it into law in 1914.
What is the most popular Mother's Day gift?
Flowers. 74% of celebrants planned to buy them in 2025, according to the National Retail Federation.
Why do countries celebrate Mother's Day on different dates?
Each country has its own history. The UK ties it to Lent, Mexico to May 10 and Thailand to the Queen Mother's birthday.
