What day is Mother's Day in 2024? Here's what to know about why we celebrate

One of springtime's most loving holidays, following Easter, is almost in bloom.

Mother's Day will soon be here. With it will come plenty of hugs, gift giving, memories, and laughter.

Are you prepared for Mother's Day? When it comes to showing the motherly figure in your life how much you cherish them, it is never too early to make special plans.

Read on to learn about the history of this ancient tradition.

When is Mother's Day this year?

In the U.S., Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May every year. This year, the holiday date is Sunday, May 12. Across the globe, the holiday may be celebrated on different dates. For example, in Mexico, Dias de las Madres is celebrated on May 10 every year. The United Kingdom also shares the same date as Mexico this year, according to the Des Moines Register.

Why do we celebrate Mother's Day?

History.com states that the American incarnation of Mother's Day was created in 1908 by Anna Jarvis of West Viriginia, becoming an official U.S. holiday in 1914. Jarvis was involved in starting "Mother's Day Work Clubs," which educated local women how to care for their children. Later on in her life, Jarvis would denounce the commercialization of the holiday, making efforts to remove it from the calendar. Mother's Day traditionally includes gifting mothers with cards, flowers, and brunch or dinner.

Mother's Day is traced back to Ancient Greece

Mother's Day can be traced all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman festivals, according to History.com. However, the early Christian festival known as "Mothering Sunday" is the clearest modern precedent for the holiday. The celebration, once a major tradition in parts of Europe and the United Kingdom, was held on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It was also a time where the faithful would return to their "mother church," (the main church close to home) for a special service. Mothering Sunday is now a secular holiday, and in the 1930s and 1940s, it became the American Mother's Day.

Here is a fun Mother's Day fact from History.com: "Did you know? More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. These holiday chats with Mom often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37 percent."

What flowers are good for Mother's Day?

Red carnations are traditionally shared on Mother's Day to symbolize respect and love for all mothers. White carnations are displayed or worn in honor of mothers who have died. Pink carnations signify appreciation and a mother's love. Mother's Day also keeps flower shops busy: Mother's Day is the busiest time of the year for florists, who prepare bouquets for the special day.

Greg Gieson, Delaware News Journal, contributed to this report.

Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Mother's Day 2024: What day, best flowers, first Mother's Day