Origins of Mother's Day

The custom of honoring mothers goes back at least as far as 17th-century England, which celebrated (and still celebrates) Mothering Sunday.

Mother's Day in the United States originated in 1872 with Julia Ward Howe, a writer, abolitionist, and suffragist who wrote the words to "Battle Hymn of the Republic." In 1911, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday. In 2007, Mother's Day will be celebrated on May 13.

Special Features

• Mothers by the Numbers
  There are 80.5 million mothers of all ages in the United States
• Mother's Day Quotations
  Memorable quotations to share with Mom
• State of the World's Mothers: 2006^New!!
  Save the Children's annual Mothers Index
• Showbiz Moms
  When mom's a movie star, the kids are likely to follow
• Women's History Features
  Notable women in business, education, the arts, and more