Mother’s Day is a special holiday that celebrates the love, care, and hard work of all the amazing moms out there.
We know many elementary school teachers focus on activities surrounding Mother’s Day. ThinkFives is here to provide knowledge about the holiday that you can share with your students.
So, whether you’re sending flowers to your own mother, giving a gift to a stepmom, or simply expressing your love and gratitude to all the moms in your life, make sure to celebrate Mother’s Day in your own special way!
Fun Facts
- Mother’s Day originated in the United States as a way to commemorate the sacrifices of mothers, particularly those who lost their sons in war.
- The first Mother’s Day was celebrated in 1908 by Anna Jarvis in memory of her mother and Grafton, West Virginia (her home) has the biggest Mother’s Day celebration.
- In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as a national Mother’s Day holiday.
- Mother’s Day has been featured in many movies, including “Mother’s Day” (2016), “Stepmom” (1998), and “Juno” (2007).
- Some countries have specific Mother’s Day rituals or traditions, such as in Japan, where it is customary to give carnations to mothers, or in India, where mothers are honored with special puja (prayer) ceremonies.
Mother’s Day Fun Stats
These statistics show just how important and widely celebrated Mother’s Day is around the world, and how much people care about honoring and appreciating their moms.
- Mother’s Day is the most popular holiday for sending flowers, with over 150 million roses given as gifts on this day.
- More long-distance phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year.
- In the United States, Mother’s Day is the third highest-grossing holiday for restaurants, with over $20 billion spent on meals for mothers.
- Mother’s Day is the second largest card-sending holiday, with over 145 million cards given as gifts in the United States.
- According to a survey, more than 70% of people in the United States buy gifts for their mothers on Mother’s Day.
Origins of Mother’s Day
The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where the mother goddess was worshiped and celebrations were held in her honor. The modern celebration of Mother’s Day as we know it today started in the United States in the early 20th century.
Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates around the world, with the most common dates:
- Second Sunday in May (as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries)
- Last Sunday in May (as in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, and Norway).
- Other countries celebrate Mother’s Day on other dates, such as the first Sunday in May (as in Italy), or on the anniversary of a mother’s death (as in Guatemala).
- In Thailand, Mother’s Day is celebrated in August.
Business and Busyness
Mother’s Day is a big day for many businesses, particularly in the retail, restaurant, and florist industries.
Here are some rough estimates of the amount of money spent in these industries on Mother’s Day in the United States:
- Florists: Over $2.6 billion is spent on flowers.
- Restaurants: Over $3.6 billion is spent on meals.
- Jewelry stores: Over $4.2 billion is spent on jewelry.
- Gift stores: Over $745 million is spent on cards.
- Online retailers: Over $3.9 billion is spent on Mother’s Day gifts online.
These estimates show just how much people are willing to spend to show their love and appreciation for their mothers on this special day.
Famous Fictional Moms
Here are five famous fictional mothers from TV shows and books. How many do you remember?
TV Classics
- June Cleaver from “Leave it to Beaver”
- Carol Brady from “The Brady Bunch”
- Clair Huxtable from “The Cosby Show”
- Marion Cunningham from “Happy Days”
- Louise Jefferson from “The Jeffersons”
Literature
- Mrs. Darling from “Peter Pan” by J.M. Barrie
- Mrs. Weasley from the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling
- Marmee March from “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott
- Mrs. Frizzle from “The Magic School Bus” series by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
- Ma Joad from “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck
Unconventional
- Peggy Bundy from “Married… with Children”
- Peggy Hill from “King of the Hill”
- Lucille Bluth from “Arrested Development”
- Debra Barone from “Everybody Loves Raymond”
- Lois Griffin from “Family Guy”
Do you have any Mother’s Day traditions that are important to you?
Usually look forward to spending time with my grown boys and having a cookout (where I don’t have to cook)! Happy Mother’s Day! 🌹
I always remembered the long distance phone calls fact! Happy Mother’s Day!!! 🌸🌼🌷💐