Where Did Mother’s Day Come From? And How to Celebrate Mother's Day in a More Personal Way

Storied Life Team
5 days ago
5 min read

Where Did Mother’s Day Come From?

The Story Behind Why We Celebrate Mother's Day

Most people don’t know this, but Mother’s Day didn’t start with flowers or greeting cards. It started with grief, and a daughter who deeply loved her mom.

Her name was Anna Jarvis. Her mother had spent most of her life caring for others, not just her children, but neighbours, wounded soldiers, and women in need. She was the kind of person who gave without expecting anything in return.

When Anna’s mother passed away in 1905, the loss was overwhelming. Anna wanted to do something to honour her and remember her forever. Not just privately, but publicly. She believed mothers deserved a day of recognition, not just for what they did, but for who they were. She wanted people to stop for a moment and really think about their moms, past or present.

In 1908, she organised the first official Mother’s Day ceremony. People wrote letters, shared stories, and reflected on what their mothers meant to them. It wasn’t about gifts or brunch reservations. It was about remembrance.

The idea spread quickly. Over the next few years, more towns joined in. Churches, schools, entire communities started hosting their own gatherings. By 1914, Mother’s Day became a recognised holiday in the U.S.

But what many people don’t realise is that Anna grew upset with what it became.

As the holiday grew, companies started turning it into something else…an opportunity to sell things. Cards, flowers, perfume, ads everywhere. The day became about sales, not stories. The original meaning began to fade, and Anna spent the rest of her life trying to protect what she had started.

All she ever wanted was a day to pause and say, “I see you. I remember you. And I’m thankful.”

That feeling still matters. Maybe now more than ever.

Mother’s Day Around the World

Motherhood is honoured in every part of the world, but not always on the same day, or in the same way.

In the UK, it’s called Mothering Sunday. It actually started way back in the 1600s, when people would return to their “mother church” once a year during Lent. Over time, it became a day to spend with family, especially mothers. And today? It’s celebrated with flowers, cards, and a Sunday roast.
In Thailand, Mother’s Day happens in August. It’s tied to the birthday of Queen Sirikit, who’s seen as the mother of the nation. There are fireworks, ceremonies, and children often kneel in front of their moms to show respect. Can you imagine how emotional that moment must feel?
In Ethiopia, it’s a three-day celebration filled with music, dancing, and traditional meals. Families gather to sing songs and share stories passed down from generations. It’s loud, joyful, and full of love.

Even though the dates and traditions are different, the message is the same. Mothers deserve to be seen. Their stories deserve to be told.

It’s one of those rare things the whole world seems to agree on. No matter where you’re from, there’s something powerful about taking time to say, “Mom, you matter to me.”

Stop for a moment to say thank you. Celebrate the women who raised you. Hold on to the memories that shaped their lives.

Why the Right Gift Still Matters

It’s easy to think Mother’s Day is just about buying something nice. But for most moms, that’s not what makes the day special.

They don’t need another candle. They want to feel seen. That’s why the right gift isn’t about the price. It’s about the feeling behind it.

A sentimental Mother’s Day gift tells her you’ve been paying attention, you remember the little things, and you care about what matters to her.

We’re not talking last-minute chocolate boxes. We’re talking the kind of gifts that make her pause and tear up a little, the kind she might keep forever.

Think:

A meaningful Mother’s Day gift that brings back a memory, like a photo that she hasn’t talked about in years.
A handwritten letter that includes something more personal, like a message from you saying, “I still remember the bedtime stories,” or “I still think about those lunches you packed every morning,” or “I remember how you held my hand when we walked to school.”
Or even something small but thoughtful, like a keepsake that says, “You’re doing a good job, Mom.”

That’s what stays with her.

If you’re looking for a meaningful Mother’s Day gift idea, think about something that helps her feel remembered. Something that holds a memory. Something she’ll look at later and feel loved all over again.

For the mom who says she doesn’t need anything, this is usually the kind of gift that makes her tear up a little. And that’s the good kind of gift. The best gift for the mom who has everything is one that makes her feel deeply loved.

The kind that feels honest. Thoughtful.

She doesn’t want fancy. She wants real.

Need a Gift That Feels Personal?

Best mothers day gift, Storied Life AI being gift for mom

Sometimes it’s hard to find something that feels right. You want to give your mom something meaningful, something she’ll keep.

Not just another thing that ends up in a drawer.

That’s why we built an app, the Storied Life AI app. Not to sell another gift, but to give people a way to tell their story and pass it on. It’s a way to say, “Your life matters. I don’t want to forget any of it.” The everyday moments. The big ones. Even the quiet ones no one saw. You’re giving them more than just a story. You’re keeping a part of them alive forever.

For you. For your kids. For your grandchildren. For someone one day who never got to meet them, but will know them through this. That’s the kind of gift that lasts forever.

Storied Life App helps you save memories, through your own voice and own words. You can use it to share stories about your mom. Or she can use it to tell her own. Either way, it becomes something real. Something personal. Something you can hold onto, long after the day is over, when you want to hear her voice again or remember something she once said.

The app works by guiding you through chapters. Each chapter is filled with thoughtful questions, things like “What was your childhood home like?” or “What’s a moment you’ll never forget with your kids?” And the best part? The follow-up questions are intuitive. So once you start, it feels natural to keep going. Like a real conversation.

Here's a short video about our app:

You can also create your own stories. If there’s a specific moment or memory you want to capture, like her go-to lunch recipes, or maybe there’s a story she loves telling about a special time with her best friends. You can create a custom chapter just for that. You can add photos too, so each story becomes even more vivid.

All of it gets saved. And when you’re ready, you can turn it into a printed keepsake life book, a beautiful memoir that holds all those memories in one place. Something she can flip through. Something you can pass down. A printed biography of your mother's life, told in her own words.

We’ve seen people use it to capture family traditions, tiny childhood memories, even voice notes they never want to lose.

When you give that to someone, especially a mom, it means something. It shows her that her story matters. That you want to remember it and keep it alive, for your children, and one day, for theirs too.

It’s the kind of gift you don’t forget. It’s something she will carry with her, and so will you.

Want to give Storied Life AI a try? Start sharing your story for free.