Mother's Day Features

Gift ideas, features, and fun stuff

Related Links Mothers in the Labor Force Selected Characteristics of Births by Race of Mother Young Adults Living at Home Adoption Trends Number, Rate, and Percent of Births to Unmarried Women, and Birth Rate for Married Women Live Births by Age and Race of Mother

Origins of Mother's Day

The custom of honoring mothers goes back at least as far as 17th-century England, which celebrated (and still celebrates) Mothering Sunday.

Mother's Day in the United States originated in 1872 with Julia Ward Howe, a writer, abolitionist, and suffragist who wrote the words to "Battle Hymn of the Republic." In 1911, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday. In 2017, Mother's Day will be celebrated on May 14.

You can read more about the origins of this holiday with our in-depth Mother's Day article!

Special Features

• Mothers by the Numbers
  There are more than 85 million mothers of all ages in the United States
• Mother's Day Quotations
  Memorable quotations to share with Mom
• Best Countries for Mothers
  The Mother's Index ranks the health, educational, and economic conditions for mothers in 165 countries.
• Worst Countries for Mothers
  Countries in sub-Saharan Africa dominate the lowest ranking.
• Showbiz Moms
  When mom's a movie star, the kids are likely to follow
• Women's History
  Notable women in business, education, the arts, and more

Especially for Kids

• Mother's Day Gift Ideas
  Cards, bookmarks, gift certificates, and more
• Mothers of Invention
  Mothers who invented fun stuff
• Like Mother, Like Daughter
  These women have followed in their mothers' footsteps

Fun Stuff

• Quiz: Mother's Day
  In Greek mythology, who is the Goddess of the Earth and the mother of Cyclopes, the Hundred-handed Ones, and the Titans?