The celebration of Mother's Day as we know it today originated in the early 20th century. It was Anna Jarvis, an American social activist, who is widely recognized for initiating the tradition of honoring mothers on this day. Anna Jarvis, often referred to as the "Mother of Mother's Day," dedicated herself to establishing this special day to pay tribute to mothers. Her inspiration came from witnessing her own mother's tireless efforts and commitment to community service. As a result, Anna Jarvis became the first woman to publicly advocate for the official recognition of Mother's Day in the United States of America.

In 1908, the inaugural commemoration of Mother's Day was orchestrated by Anna Jarvis at a Methodist church in West Virginia. Subsequently, this practice gained momentum and was embraced in various other urban centers. Notably, the city of Philadelphia joined in observing Mother's Day just a year later. This served as an additional impetus for Anna Jarvis to advocate for the nationwide acknowledgment of this special day dedicated to mothers.

In 1914, a few years later, the President of the United States at that time, Woodrow Wilson, officially declared the second Sunday of May as Mother's Day. This decision established Mother's Day as a national holiday in America. Since then, many countries, including India, have adopted this tradition, celebrating Mother's Day annually on the second Sunday of May to honor mothers and motherly figures.