Did You Know… Mother’s Day and West Virginia
What does Grafton, West Virginia and Mother’s Day have in common? Well, it was here that the holiday got started. Mother’s Day was inspired by Anna Marie Jarvis, who wanted to honor her late mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. The younger Jarvis created the observation of what would become known as Mother’s Day on May 10, 1908 at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton. Six years later, on May 8, U.S. Congress passed a joint resolution and signed by President Wilson that established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
For the 100th anniversary, you can tour the former church, now known as the International Mothers Day Shrine, and visit the Anna Jarvis Birthplace Museum in Webster to learn more about the family and this special holiday.
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POSTED IN: Holidays, Museums, Small Towns to Visit, Things to See in West Virginia
2 opinions for Did You Know… Mother’s Day and West Virginia
J-Michael
Apr 26, 2008 at 5:07 pm
You know there’s a lot happening in the town when the largest banner on their website is ‘Birthplace of Mother’s Day.’
Apryl
Apr 26, 2008 at 5:16 pm
It is the 100th anniversary of the holiday.
Apryl
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