Mother’s Day is celebrated every year in Georgia on March 3. The first country to start the celebrations of Mother’s Day on March 3 was actually Norway, and Georgia was the second, though Norway marks Mother’s Day on different dates each year. It was originally declared by the first President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, to replace International Women’s Day and was officially approved by the Supreme Council in 1991. Nowadays, Georgia celebrates both Mother’s Day on March 3 and International Women’s Day on March 8.
On this day, we celebrate mothers, future moms who are pregnant, maternal bonds, and mothers’ influence on the family and society.
History of Mother's Day in Georgia
Arguably, the tradition of a day to celebrate mothers could be traced back to the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivities to honor Rhea and Cybele, the respective mothers of the gods in each culture. Early Christians also celebrated “Mothering Sunday” on the fourth Sunday of Lent as a mother’s festival to honor the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ. Over time, this would change into a more secular holiday where children would give their mothers flowers and other gifts.
The modern holiday was first celebrated in 1907 when Anna Jarvis held the first Mother’s Day service of worship at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, United States. 40 years before it became an official holiday, Julia Ward Howe made a Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870, which called upon mothers of all nationalities to band together to promote the “amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.” By 1911, all U.S. states observed the holiday, and in 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.
By the early 1920s, Hallmark Cards and other companies had started selling Mother’s Day cards, but Jarvis believed that the companies had misinterpreted and exploited the idea of Mother’s Day. After companies made it popular in the United States, other countries and cultures adopted it, including Georgia. In some countries, the day has different meanings; it is associated with different religious, historical, or legendary events; and is celebrated on different dates.
Mother's Day in Georgia timeline
Julia Ward Howe unsuccessfully calls upon mothers of all nationalities to band together to promote the "amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."
Anna Jarvis holds the first Mother's Day service of worship at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, United States.
Woodrow Wilson signs a proclamation designating Mother's Day as a national holiday in the United States.
This commercialization greatly upsets Jarvis, but it results in other countries adopting the holiday.
Originally meant to replace International Women's Day, nowadays Georgia celebrates both holidays.
Mother's Day in Georgia FAQs
What does the Bible say about Mother’s Day?
The Bible frequently asks followers to honor and love their mothers.
What color represents motherhood?
The color pink was chosen to represent motherhood.
What animal symbolizes motherhood?
Most commonly, the bear represents power, motherhood, and fortitude.
Mother's Day in Georgia Activities
Write a handwritten letter to your mom
Instead of purchasing gifts and prepared cards, Jarvis thought that people should show their love and thanks to their mothers via handwritten letters, as the occasion had become overly commercialized. Why not listen to her now that we are aware of her story? Even if you live too far away from your mother, you can still offer her something.
Take her out to eat
It doesn’t need to be a fancy and expensive restaurant. You can simply take her to her favorite one, or the one she mentioned she wanted to check out but didn’t have the time to.
Simply spend time with her
If you can be there all day, that’s more valuable than any money you could spend in a restaurant or on expensive gifts. You can offer to do all her housework so she can relax, play games with her, or watch a movie together.
5 Facts About Mother’s Day That Will Surprise You
Wearing a carnation is a common tradition
White carnations are given in memory of a mother who has passed away, whereas pink ones honor a mother who is still alive, though this is not practiced worldwide.
Jarvis was arrested for disturbing the peace
When carnations became widely available, the American War Mothers sold them to earn money, which infuriated Jarvis because she had long protested the commercialization of Mother's Day.
Nowadays, moms want more family photos
In a survey, moms indicated that they only appear in fewer than 45% of the family portraits that are on display in their homes, and that they would prefer more recent pictures of their immediate family.
Phone calls
According to “History.com,” more phone calls are made on this day than on any other, and phone traffic can spike to 37%.
French medals
In the 1920s, France used to give medals to mothers of large families for their assistance in post-World War I population rebuilding.
Why We Love Mother's Day in Georgia
We love moms
Sometimes we take them for granted. But Mother’s Day can be a reminder to spend more time with our mothers even beyond this day.
It’s a day to think about the many different kinds of moms
Nowadays, there’s a lot of talk about diversity. There are single moms, families with two moms, teenage moms, elderly moms, and more.
It’s a celebration of life
For the moms themselves, this is a chance to delight in their children or special memories. On this day, if you're a mother, make sure you reciprocate your family's emotions!
Mother's Day in Georgia dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March 3 | Monday |
| 2026 | March 3 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | March 3 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | March 3 | Friday |
| 2029 | March 3 | Saturday |
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