Mother's Day: The Inventor Who Came to Regret It

In 1907, Anna Jarvis sent 500 white carnations to a church in West Virginia in memory of her late mother. Seven years later, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's Day a national holiday. What happened next was something Jarvis would spend the rest of her life trying to undo.

From a Carnation to a Billion-Dollar Industry

Anna Jarvis envisioned Mother's Day as a personal, quiet day of gratitude — not a commercial spectacle. But as soon as the holiday was official, florists, greeting card makers, and candy shops smelled profit. By the 1920s, Mother's Day had become a commercial juggernaut that Jarvis deeply despised.

Did you know? Anna Jarvis called greeting cards "a lazy excuse for genuine feelings" and spent her final years fighting the commercialisation of the very holiday she had created — including getting arrested at a flower industry event she tried to disrupt.

Tragically, she ended her days penniless in a sanatorium — reportedly funded in part by the very florists she had fought against her entire life.

Mother's Day Around the World — and in Switzerland

While the US celebrates on the first Sunday in May, Switzerland marks the occasion on the second Sunday in May — in 2026, that's 10 May. In some Arab countries, Mother's Day falls on 21 March (the first day of spring), while in Ethiopia it's celebrated over three full days with a large family festival.

Fun Fact: In Serbia, Mother's Day is called "Materice" and takes place in December — with a tradition of children symbolically "tying up" their mother until she buys her freedom with sweets.

Gifts That Actually Surprise

Surveys suggest many mothers want quality time above all else. But who says a thoughtful gift can't deliver exactly that? The smartest presents invite shared experiences.

For the mum who loves experimenting in the kitchen, a quality egg cooker or poacher can turn a Sunday brunch into a proper event — and did you know the first patented electric egg cooker appeared in the 1930s?

Does she love her tea or coffee ritual? A beautiful tea station or compact coffee machine transforms a daily pause into a real highlight — and gives you the perfect excuse to join her on your next visit.

For the mum who's always there for everyone else and rarely treats herself, a massage device or relaxing wellness gadget is a gentle nudge that she deserves some care too.

Fun Fact: Statistically, most Mother's Day gifts are bought on the day itself. Planning ahead puts you firmly in the thoughtful minority.

A creative alternative to flowers: a herb garden or balcony starter kit. The gift literally keeps growing — and every basil leaf is a little reminder of the occasion.

The Nicest Gesture

Anna Jarvis may not have been entirely wrong: the best gift is attention and time. But a well-chosen present that shows you actually thought about it never hurts. Browse the enjoymedia range — you might find exactly the thing that's been missing at home.

What are you giving your mum this year? We'd love to hear!