Mother’s Day as a modern celebration was officially established in the United States in 1908 by Anna Jarvis, who organised a memorial service in honour of her mother. The day was formally recognised as a national holiday in the US in 1914, and the tradition quickly spread across the world.

In Sydney, Mother’s Day has been celebrated since the early 20th century and is observed annually on the second Sunday of May. Today, it is one of the most widely celebrated days in the Sydneyn calendar — a time for families to come together and show appreciation for mothers, grandmothers, and all mother figures.

The official flower of Mother’s Day is the carnation — pink or red carnations are given to mothers who are living, while white carnations are traditionally worn in memory of mothers who have passed. In Sydney, the chrysanthemum has also become closely associated with Mother’s Day, as it blooms in autumn and conveniently contains the word “mum.”