Key Takeaways
- Mother's Day was first celebrated in the United States on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia.
- The modern Mother's Day holiday was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1870 with her "Mother's Day Proclamation".
- Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother's Day service in 1908 to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis.
- Mother's Day spending in the US reached $33.5 billion in 2024 according to the National Retail Federation.
- Average spending per child or individual on Mother's Day gifts was $258 in 2024 per NRF survey.
- US Mother's Day economic impact includes $2.6 billion spent on flowers annually.
- 84% of US consumers bought flowers for Mother's Day in 2023, generating $2.6 billion.
- 70% of Americans purchase greeting cards, with 113 million cards sent annually.
- Jewelry is the top gift, chosen by 52% of shoppers, averaging $150 per item.
- 76% of flower deliveries are ordered online for Mother's Day.
- US florists sell 25 million bouquets on Mother's Day weekend.
- Roses account for 65% of Mother's Day flower sales, totaling 14 million stems.
- Mother's Day is celebrated in 150+ countries, often on second Sunday of May.
- In Thailand, Mother's Day is August 12, birthday of Queen Sirikit, with jasmine garlands given.
- UK Mothering Sunday is fourth Sunday of Lent, with simnel cake tradition.
Mother's Day began as a tribute for peace and health before evolving into a highly celebrated commercial holiday.
Consumer Behavior
- 92% of Americans acknowledge Mother's Day, highest recognition rate globally.
- 75% of consumers start shopping for Mother's Day two weeks in advance.
- Women are 60% more likely to buy gifts for other mothers than men.
- 68% prefer sustainable or eco-friendly gifts for Mother's Day.
- Social media influences 45% of gift choices via influencer posts.
- 55% of Gen Z opt for experiential gifts over material ones.
- Last-minute shoppers comprise 25%, using same-day delivery services.
- 40% return or exchange Mother's Day gifts within a week.
- Email newsletters drive 30% of online Mother's Day purchases.
- 72% of recipients prefer practical gifts like household help over luxuries.
- Mobile shopping apps account for 50% of Mother's Day transactions.
- 65% of boomers prefer traditional gifts like flowers and cards.
- Loyalty programs influence 35% of repeat purchases for Mother's Day.
- 48% use buy-now-pay-later services for higher-end gifts.
- Hispanic consumers spend 20% more on family-oriented Mother's Day gifts.
- 82% say time spent with mom is the best gift, beyond purchases.
- In 2023, 64% of UK consumers dined out for Mothering Sunday.
- 70% of shoppers research gifts online before buying in-store.
- Personalized gifts see 28% higher satisfaction rates among recipients.
- 51% avoid regifting on Mother's Day due to emotional significance.
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
Economic Statistics
- Mother's Day spending in the US reached $33.5 billion in 2024 according to the National Retail Federation.
- Average spending per child or individual on Mother's Day gifts was $258 in 2024 per NRF survey.
- US Mother's Day economic impact includes $2.6 billion spent on flowers annually.
- Restaurant spending on Mother's Day totals $4.3 billion yearly in the US.
- Jewelry accounts for $6.5 billion in Mother's Day sales in the US.
- Greeting cards generate $700 million in revenue on Mother's Day in the US.
- Spa and gift card spending reaches $1.2 billion for Mother's Day.
- E-commerce Mother's Day sales grew 15% year-over-year to $5 billion in 2023.
- Travel-related Mother's Day spending hit $1.5 billion in 2024.
- Candy and sweets sales for Mother's Day total $1 billion annually.
- Apparel gifts contribute $2.8 billion to Mother's Day economy.
- Home goods and electronics add $3.1 billion in spending.
- Pet-related Mother's Day gifts reached $800 million in 2023.
- Total retail sales boost from Mother's Day is equivalent to 2% of quarterly GDP contribution.
Economic Statistics Interpretation
Floral Industry Impact
- 76% of flower deliveries are ordered online for Mother's Day.
- US florists sell 25 million bouquets on Mother's Day weekend.
- Roses account for 65% of Mother's Day flower sales, totaling 14 million stems.
- Mother's Day boosts flower imports by 30%, with $150 million in value.
- Average flower bouquet price rises 20% to $45 on Mother's Day.
- Tulips are second most popular, comprising 15% of sales with 4 million bunches.
- Florist retail sales increase 25% during Mother's Day week.
- 80% of carnations sold on Mother's Day honor the tradition from Anna Jarvis.
- Orchid sales spike 40% for Mother's Day gifting.
- Mother's Day flower waste is estimated at 10 million arrangements post-holiday.
- Lilies represent 12% of sales, preferred for their elegance.
- Subscription flower services see 35% new sign-ups around Mother's Day.
- Total flower revenue on Mother's Day exceeds $2.6 billion globally.
Floral Industry Impact Interpretation
Gift and Spending Habits
- 84% of US consumers bought flowers for Mother's Day in 2023, generating $2.6 billion.
- 70% of Americans purchase greeting cards, with 113 million cards sent annually.
- Jewelry is the top gift, chosen by 52% of shoppers, averaging $150 per item.
- 41% buy special outings or events, like dinners costing average $100.
- Flowers top the list for 72% of recipients, with roses most popular at 56%.
- 28% opt for personalized gifts like engraved items or custom jewelry.
- Average gift basket spend is $75, with food baskets leading at 35% preference.
- Spa treatments are gifted by 24%, with average cost of $120 per session.
- 62% of millennials spend more on experiences like brunches over physical gifts.
- Handmade gifts from Etsy see 40% sales increase pre-Mother's Day.
- Chocolate gifts preferred by 45%, with average spend $40 per box.
- 55% of shoppers buy clothing or accessories, averaging $60.
- Books are gifted by 18%, with personalized books up 25% in sales.
- 67% of fathers buy gifts for Mother's Day on behalf of children.
- Online shopping accounts for 45% of Mother's Day purchases.
Gift and Spending Habits Interpretation
Historical Facts
- Mother's Day was first celebrated in the United States on May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia.
- The modern Mother's Day holiday was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1870 with her "Mother's Day Proclamation".
- Anna Jarvis organized the first Mother's Day service in 1908 to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis.
- Mother's Day became a national holiday in the US when President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law in 1914.
- Ann Reeves Jarvis had started "Mothers' Day Work Clubs" in 1858 to improve sanitation and health.
- Julia Ward Howe, writer of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, called for Mother's Day in 1870 to promote peace.
- The first Mother's Day church service was held at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, WV.
- Anna Jarvis spent her inheritance campaigning for Mother's Day and later tried to abolish it due to commercialization.
- In ancient Greece, early celebrations honored Rhea, the mother of gods, during spring festivals.
- The UK's Mothering Sunday dates back to the 16th century, linked to returning to mother church.
- Mother's Day cards were first sold in the US in 1910 by the John Wanamaker department store.
- By 1920, Mother's Day was celebrated in 43 countries around the world.
- Anna Jarvis was arrested in 1948 for disturbing the peace at a Philadelphia War Mothers convention.
- The first Mother's Day stamp was issued by the US Postal Service in 1934.
- In 1915, President Wilson sent carnations to his mother on Mother's Day, setting a floral tradition.
Historical Facts Interpretation
International Observances
- Mother's Day is celebrated in 150+ countries, often on second Sunday of May.
- In Thailand, Mother's Day is August 12, birthday of Queen Sirikit, with jasmine garlands given.
- UK Mothering Sunday is fourth Sunday of Lent, with simnel cake tradition.
- Mexico celebrates on May 10 with carnivals and mariachi music.
- In India, Mother's Day is second Sunday in May, with 70% urban celebration rate.
- Russia observes International Women's Day on March 8 as Mother's Day equivalent.
- Japan calls it "Mother's Festival" on May 8, with carnations and red flowers.
- Indonesia's Mother's Day is December 22, honoring Kartini with national holiday.
- 85% of Brazilians give gifts on Mother's Day, second Sunday of May.
- In Ethiopia, Mother's Day is during Fasika festival with family feasts.
- Australia celebrates on first Sunday of May, with 4 million cards sent.
- France's Fête des Mères is last Sunday of May, with medals for mothers of large families.
- 60% of Chinese celebrate imported Mother's Day on second Sunday of May with flowers.
- Argentina's Día de la Madre is third Sunday of October, with family lunches.
- In Poland, Mother's Day is May 26, with handmade cards from schoolchildren.
International Observances Interpretation
Sources & References
- Reference 1ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 2HISTORYhistory.comVisit source
- Reference 3ALMANACalmanac.comVisit source
- Reference 4LOCloc.govVisit source
- Reference 5WOMENSHISTORYwomenshistory.orgVisit source
- Reference 6PBSpbs.orgVisit source
- Reference 7GRAFTONMOTHTERSDAYgraftonmothtersday.comVisit source
- Reference 8SMITHSONIANMAGsmithsonianmag.comVisit source
- Reference 9BRITANNICAbritannica.comVisit source
- Reference 10MOTHERINGSUNDAYmotheringsunday.orgVisit source
- Reference 11NRFnrf.comVisit source
- Reference 12UNun.orgVisit source
- Reference 13PHILLYMAGphillymag.comVisit source
- Reference 14ABOUTabout.usps.comVisit source
- Reference 15WHITEHOUSEHISTORYwhitehousehistory.orgVisit source
- Reference 161800FLOWERS1800flowers.comVisit source
- Reference 17JEWELERSjewelers.orgVisit source
- Reference 18GREETINGCARDgreetingcard.orgVisit source
- Reference 19DIGITALCOMMERCE360digitalcommerce360.comVisit source
- Reference 20UNIFORMMARKETuniformmarket.comVisit source
- Reference 21AMERICANPETPRODUCTSamericanpetproducts.orgVisit source
- Reference 22STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 23HALLMARKhallmark.comVisit source
- Reference 24FTDftd.comVisit source
- Reference 25PERSONALIZATIONMALLpersonalizationmall.comVisit source
- Reference 26GIFTBASKETgiftbasket.comVisit source
- Reference 27SPAFINDERspafinder.comVisit source
- Reference 28EVENTBRITEeventbrite.comVisit source
- Reference 29ETSYetsy.comVisit source
- Reference 30NCA-CANDYnca-candy.orgVisit source
- Reference 31PUBLISHERSWEEKLYpublishersweekly.comVisit source
- Reference 32EMARKETERemarketer.comVisit source
- Reference 33SOCIETYOFAMERICANFLORISTSsocietyofamericanflorists.orgVisit source
- Reference 34ERSers.usda.govVisit source
- Reference 35PROFLORAproflora.comVisit source
- Reference 36IFTFiftf.orgVisit source
- Reference 37ORCHIDWEBorchidweb.comVisit source
- Reference 38GREENBIZgreenbiz.comVisit source
- Reference 39FLORALBUSINESSfloralbusiness.comVisit source
- Reference 40FLOWERBXflowerbx.comVisit source
- Reference 41TIMEANDDATEtimeanddate.comVisit source
- Reference 42THAIZERthaizer.comVisit source
- Reference 43MEXICODESCONOCIDOmexicodesconocido.com.mxVisit source
- Reference 44TIMESOFINDIAtimesofindia.indiatimes.comVisit source
- Reference 45RBTHrbth.comVisit source
- Reference 46JAPAN-GUIDEjapan-guide.comVisit source
- Reference 47BBCbbc.comVisit source
- Reference 48ETHIOPIANHISTORYethiopianhistory.comVisit source
- Reference 49MOTHERSDAYAUSTRALIAmothersdayaustralia.com.auVisit source
- Reference 50SERVICE-PUBLICservice-public.frVisit source
- Reference 51CHINADAILYchinadaily.com.cnVisit source
- Reference 52ARGENTINAargentina.gob.arVisit source
- Reference 53POLANDpoland.plVisit source
- Reference 54MCKINSEYmckinsey.comVisit source
- Reference 55FORBESforbes.comVisit source
- Reference 56MAILCHIMPmailchimp.comVisit source
- Reference 57GOODHOUSEKEEPINGgoodhousekeeping.comVisit source
- Reference 58APPANNIEappannie.comVisit source
- Reference 59AARPaarp.orgVisit source
- Reference 60BONDBRANDLOYALTYbondbrandloyalty.comVisit source
- Reference 61AFTERPAYafterpay.comVisit source
- Reference 62PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 63WAITROSEwaitrose.comVisit source
- Reference 64SHOPIFYshopify.comVisit source
- Reference 65YOUGOVyougov.comVisit source






