The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day traditionally involves presenting moms with flowers, cards and other gifts.

By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.