SANTO DOMINGO – Flowers, surprise breakfasts, WhatsApp messages, packed restaurants, and families reunited. Every year, millions of people around the world celebrate Mother's Day, a tradition that has always been there. In the Dominican Republic, it falls on the last Sunday of May.
But behind one of the most emotional dates on the calendar lies a story much more intense than many imagine.
Because Mother's Day wasn't born as a commercial celebration. Nor did it begin with gifts and promotions. Its modern origins arose amidst wars, social movements, and the insistence of a woman who transformed her love for her mother into a national cause.
Long before flowers: the first celebrations for mothers
The idea of honoring motherhood is not new. According to historical records published by National Geographic and the Encyclopaedia Britannica, various ancient civilizations already held ceremonies dedicated to maternal figures.
In ancient Greece, for example, Rhea, considered the mother of the Olympian gods, was worshipped. The Romans also held festivals to honor Cybele, associated with fertility and motherhood.
Centuries later, a tradition known as "Mothering Sunday" emerged in England, celebrated during Lent. On that day, many people returned to visit their mothers and the church where they had been baptized.
However, modern Mother's Day, as it is known today in much of the world, has a much more recent and deeply emotional origin.
The woman who inspired modern Mother's Day
According to historical records from the Library of Congress, the modern celebration was born thanks to Anna Jarvis, an American woman who wanted to pay tribute to the work of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis.
Ann Reeves Jarvis had worked for years organizing support groups for mothers, especially focused on improving health conditions and helping families affected by disease and conflict.
During the American Civil War, he even promoted initiatives to assist wounded soldiers from both sides, something uncommon for the time.
When Ann died, her daughter Anna decided that mothers deserved a special day to recognize their effort, sacrifice, and love.
A campaign that ended up becoming a global tradition
Anna Jarvis began an intense campaign by writing letters to politicians, churches, and organizations to officially create Mother's Day.
And it worked.
According to the Library of Congress, in 1914 then-President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in the United States.
The idea began to spread rapidly to other countries, adapting to different cultures and calendars.
The most ironic thing: its creator ended up hating the celebration
Here appears one of the most curious facts in the entire story.
Over the years, Anna Jarvis grew increasingly annoyed by the commercialization of Mother's Day. According to historical documents cited by Smithsonian Magazine, she even publicly protested against flower shops, greeting card companies, and other businesses that, in her view, had transformed the heartfelt tribute to mothers into a commercial event.
He even tried to cancel some official celebrations.
For Jarvis, the true spirit of Mother's Day was not in buying expensive gifts, but in dedicating time, gratitude, and honest words to mothers.
And why is it celebrated in May in the Dominican Republic?
In the Dominican Republic, Mother's Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of May.
The date was officially recognized during the 20th century and has become one of the most important family celebrations in the country. Unlike other holidays, it typically brings together entire generations for lunches, visits, and family gatherings.
Over time, it also became a key date for Dominican commerce, music, and popular culture.
More than a tradition
Although today Mother's Day is surrounded by promotions, flowers and advertising, its origin stemmed from something much more human: the desire to recognize the silent impact of millions of women on everyday life.
And perhaps that's why the celebration continues to survive the passage of time.
Because, beyond any gift, few figures occupy such a universal place as a mother.
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