History of Mother's Day: Why we celebrate moms on the second Sunday in May In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day a national holiday to be observed on the second Sunday in May. Author: WHAS11 News (Digital Content Staff) Published: 10:24 PM EDT May 8, 2021 Updated: 10:24 PM EDT May 8, 2021 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The majority of Americans are celebrating Mother's Day with their mom(s) this weekend. That said, few of us know how the national day to celebrate mom started and the woman credited with getting the day on the calendar. How did Mother's Day start? According to britannica.com, Anna Jarvis originated Mother’s Day in May 1908. Jarvis's mother was known for organizing women's groups to promote health and friendship. Her mother died in 1905.