Sydney, May 11: Today is Mother’s Day, a day to pause and celebrate the incredible women who have shaped our lives. But do you know how this cherished holiday began?
The origins of Mother’s Day trace back to Anna Jarvis, a woman driven by a promise she made to her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. Born in 1864 in Grafton, West Virginia, Anna watched as her mother dedicated years to organising Mothers’ Day Work Clubs — grassroots groups focused on improving public health, hygiene, and child survival in their community. When Ann passed away in 1905, Anna vowed to honour her legacy in a meaningful way.
What started as a simple memorial service to honour her mother grew into a nationwide campaign. On 10 May 1908, Anna held the first official Mother’s Day celebration in Grafton’s Methodist church.
By 1914, President Woodrow Wilson had officially declared the second Sunday in May as a national holiday dedicated to all mothers.
“For the best mother who ever lived — your mother,” Anna famously said, defining Mother’s Day as a personal, heartfelt tribute to individual mothers. Yet, despite her noble intentions, the holiday soon became a commercial juggernaut. Florists, confectioners, and greeting card companies seized the opportunity, transforming what was meant to be a day of reflection into a profitable business venture.
Anna spent the rest of her life fighting to reclaim the holiday from what she saw as crass commercialism. She poured her entire inheritance — over $100,000 — into lawsuits, protests, and public campaigns, all aimed at restoring the day’s original purpose. In the end, she died in 1948, nearly blind and penniless in a sanatorium in Philadelphia, without children of her own.
But Anna’s legacy lives on. Each time someone picks up the phone to call their mum, sends a heartfelt note, or simply expresses love and gratitude, they are carrying on Anna’s original vision for Mother’s Day.
Today Sydneysiders can reflect on Anna’s legacy while enjoying a complimentary Piazza D’Oro coffee at Bobby’s in Cronulla from 8 am to 10 am.
To commemorate the occasion, Sydney-based illustrator Nico Nicoson has created a bespoke Mother’s Day card, available as a keepsake during the event.
Where: Bobby’s Cronulla, 6R The Esplanade, Cronulla 2230
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