100 Mother’s Day Trivia Questions and Answers

Looking for the best Mother’s Day trivia questions to make your celebration unforgettable? Whether you’re hosting a brunch, planning a family game night, or just want to test your knowledge, this massive collection of Mother’s Day quiz questions has you covered. From the surprising origins of the holiday to jaw-dropping spending statistics, these questions span history, pop culture, world traditions, and more.

Mother’s Day isn’t just about flowers and greeting cards. It’s a celebration with roots stretching back to ancient civilizations, a founder who tried to abolish her own creation, and traditions so diverse that some countries honor mothers in October while others do it in December. These 100 trivia questions will surprise even the biggest Mother’s Day enthusiast.

Grab a pen, gather the family, and let’s get started.

How Did Mother’s Day Start in America? History and Origins Trivia (Questions 1–20)

The story behind Mother’s Day in the United States is far richer — and stranger — than most people realize. Before you buy that card this May, see how well you know the holiday’s past.

1. Who is widely recognized as the founder of Mother’s Day in the United States?

Anna Jarvis. She organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration in 1908 to honor her own mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who had died three years earlier.

2. In what year did President Woodrow Wilson officially declare Mother’s Day a national holiday?

1914. Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day across the United States.

3. Where was the first official Mother’s Day church service held?

Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. The church is now recognized as the International Mother’s Day Shrine and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

4. What flower did Anna Jarvis choose as the symbol of Mother’s Day?

The white carnation. It was her mother’s favorite flower. She sent 500 white carnations to the first Mother’s Day church service in 1908.

5. What did Anna Jarvis’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, organize before the Civil War?

Mothers’ Day Work Clubs. Starting in the 1850s, these clubs worked to improve sanitation and reduce the devastating infant mortality rates in rural West Virginia communities.

6. Did Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day, have any children?

No. Anna Jarvis never married and never had children. She devoted her life to establishing — and later fighting against — the holiday.

7. Why did Anna Jarvis eventually turn against Mother’s Day?

She was furious about its commercialization. Jarvis believed the holiday should be a personal, heartfelt occasion — not a way for florists, candy makers, and card companies to profit. She spent much of her inheritance on legal battles to regain control of the holiday.

8. What happened to Anna Jarvis in her final years?

She was placed in the Marshall Square Sanitarium in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1943. She died there in 1948 at age 84, nearly penniless from her legal fights. Ironically, people connected to the floral and greeting card industries reportedly helped pay her care bills.

9. What was the first U.S. state to officially recognize Mother’s Day?

West Virginia, in 1910 — Anna Jarvis’s home state.

10. Which American poet and activist pushed for a “Mother’s Day for Peace” in 1872?

Julia Ward Howe, who is best known for writing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Her version of the holiday focused on pacifism and mothers uniting against war, but it faded by the 1880s.

11. Anna Jarvis insisted on a specific spelling of “Mother’s Day.” What was it?

She insisted on the singular possessive — “Mother’s Day,” not “Mothers’ Day.” She wanted each family to honor its own mother, not all mothers collectively.

12. What major event did Ann Reeves Jarvis organize after the Civil War to promote peace?

A Mothers’ Friendship Day in 1868. The event brought together former Union and Confederate soldiers and their families to encourage reconciliation in war-torn West Virginia.

13. Which famous department store owner helped Anna Jarvis promote the first Mother’s Day?

John Wanamaker. He hosted a large Mother’s Day event at his Philadelphia department store on May 10, 1908, the same day as the Grafton church service.

14. How many of Ann Reeves Jarvis’s children survived to adulthood?

Only four out of her eleven (some sources say thirteen) children survived. The high child mortality rate in rural Appalachia was a driving force behind her public health work.

15. In what year did the American War Mothers upset Anna Jarvis by launching a Mother’s Day stamp?

1934. The stamp featured a reproduction of James McNeill Whistler’s famous painting of his mother, along with white carnations. Jarvis was furious because she had not been consulted.

16. Which First Lady did Anna Jarvis accuse of exploiting Mother’s Day?

Eleanor Roosevelt. Jarvis accused her of using the holiday to raise funds for charities addressing maternal and infant mortality — causes Jarvis felt distorted the day’s original personal meaning.

17. Before Wilson’s 1914 proclamation, what did Anna Jarvis trademark?

She trademarked the phrases “Second Sunday in May,” “Mother’s Day,” and her name as the founder. She also incorporated the Mother’s Day International Association in 1912 to protect the holiday.

18. What was the name of the organization Ann Reeves Jarvis created to care for Civil War soldiers?

The Mothers’ Day Work Clubs. During the war, these clubs provided care for wounded soldiers from both Union and Confederate armies.

19. In what city did Anna Jarvis live for most of her adult life?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She moved there to live with her brother and worked in the city while campaigning for the holiday.

20. What was Anna Jarvis’s occupation before she became a full-time activist?

She was a schoolteacher in Grafton, West Virginia, and later worked briefly as a bank teller in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

How Much Do Americans Spend on Mother’s Day? Fun Facts and Spending Trivia (Questions 21–35)

Mother’s Day is one of the biggest spending holidays in America. These questions reveal just how much we invest in showing Mom some love.

21. How much did Americans spend on Mother’s Day in 2025, according to the National Retail Federation?

An estimated $34.1 billion, making it the second-highest total on record. The all-time high was $35.7 billion in 2023.

22. What was the average amount each person planned to spend on Mother’s Day in 2025?

$259.04 per person — roughly $5 more than in 2024, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey.

23. What percentage of U.S. adults celebrate Mother’s Day?

About 84%, making it the third most popular holiday in the United States after Christmas and the Fourth of July.

24. What is the most popular Mother’s Day gift in the United States?

Flowers. In 2025, 74% of consumers planned to buy flowers for Mother’s Day, with total flower spending reaching approximately $3.2 billion.

25. What is the second most popular Mother’s Day gift?

Greeting cards. About 73% of consumers purchase cards, making Mother’s Day the third-largest card-giving occasion of the year.

26. Which gift category generates the highest total spending on Mother’s Day?

Jewelry. Despite being less commonly purchased than flowers or cards, jewelry spending totaled approximately $6.8 billion in 2025.

27. Approximately how many phone calls are made worldwide on Mother’s Day?

An estimated 122 million phone calls, making it the busiest phone day of the year. During the 2020 pandemic, that number translated to 1.75 billion minutes of calls and 6 billion texts.

28. What percentage of Mother’s Day shoppers buy gifts specifically for their mother or stepmother?

About 57%. The next most common recipients are wives (23%) and daughters (12%).

29. Is Mother’s Day a federal holiday in the United States?

No. It is a national observance, but it is not a federal public holiday. Government offices are not required to close.

30. Which holiday is the only one where Americans spend more per person than Mother’s Day?

The winter holidays (Christmas/Hanukkah). Mother’s Day ranks second in average per-person spending among all U.S. holidays.

31. What type of Mother’s Day gift saw the biggest spending increase in 2025?

Special outings like brunch and dinner, which saw a 4.8% spending increase. Gift card spending also rose by 7.3%.

32. Where do most Americans shop for Mother’s Day gifts?

Online. In 2025, 35.9% of consumers planned to shop online, followed by department stores (32%) and specialty retailers (29%).

33. How does Mother’s Day spending compare to Father’s Day spending?

Americans consistently spend significantly more on Mother’s Day. In 2024, consumers spent $33.5 billion on Mother’s Day versus $22.4 billion on Father’s Day.

34. What is the busiest day of the year for restaurants in the United States?

Mother’s Day. More Americans dine out on Mother’s Day than on any other day, with roughly 61% of celebrants planning a special outing or meal.

35. What percentage of consumers said they prioritize “unique and meaningful” gifts for Mother’s Day?

Nearly 50% of shoppers say they look for gifts that create lasting memories rather than generic presents.

When Is Mother’s Day Celebrated Around the World? Global Traditions Trivia (Questions 36–55)

Mother’s Day is not a one-size-fits-all holiday. Different countries celebrate on different dates, for different reasons, with wildly different customs. Test your global knowledge here.

36. On what date does Mother’s Day fall in the United States in 2026?

Sunday, May 10, 2026. It always falls on the second Sunday in May.

37. What is Mother’s Day called in the United Kingdom, and when is it celebrated?

It’s called Mothering Sunday and falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent — a date that changes each year based on the Easter calendar. In 2026, it fell on March 15.

38. What was the original meaning of “Mothering Sunday” in England?

In the Middle Ages, it was the day when people returned to their “mother church” — the main church or cathedral in their area — for a special service. Over time, it became a day to visit and honor one’s actual mother.

39. What is the traditional Mothering Sunday cake in the United Kingdom?

The Simnel cake — a light fruitcake with two layers of marzipan. The cake is decorated with 11 balls of marzipan, representing the apostles (excluding Judas).

40. On what fixed date does Mexico celebrate Mother’s Day every year?

May 10, regardless of the day of the week. The holiday was established in 1922 by journalist Rafael Alducin, founder of the Mexico City newspaper El Excelsior.

41. What musical tradition is common on Mother’s Day morning in Mexico?

Families often hire mariachi bands to serenade mothers with traditional songs like “Las Mañanitas” early in the morning.

42. On what date do many Arab countries, including Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, celebrate Mother’s Day?

March 21 — the first day of spring (the spring equinox). The tradition in Egypt was championed by journalist Mustafa Amin, who advocated for the holiday after writing about the American tradition in 1943.

43. When does Thailand celebrate Mother’s Day, and why that date?

August 12, which is the birthday of Queen Sirikit. The traditional gift is jasmine flowers, which symbolize a mother’s pure and unconditional love.

44. What is the name of Ethiopia’s multi-day celebration honoring mothers?

Antrosht. It takes place at the end of the rainy season (between October and November). Families gather for a feast, with daughters bringing vegetables and cheese and sons bringing meat.

45. When does Argentina celebrate Mother’s Day?

On the third Sunday of October. Argentina is the only country in the world that celebrates on this date. The tradition is linked to the old liturgical date for the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

46. When did Japan start celebrating Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May?

1949. Before World War II, Japan briefly celebrated the holiday on March 6 in honor of Empress Kojun’s birthday. The holiday was banned during the war as a “Western influence” and then revived in 1949 with the May date.

47. What flower is the traditional Mother’s Day gift in Japan?

Red carnations, which symbolize a mother’s love and sacrifices. Japanese schoolchildren also traditionally draw portraits of their mothers as a classroom activity.

48. What flower is traditionally given on Mother’s Day in Australia, and why?

Chrysanthemums — because they bloom in autumn (May is fall in the Southern Hemisphere), and the nickname “mum” has a double meaning in Australian English.

49. When does France celebrate Fête des Mères (Mother’s Day)?

On the last Sunday of May, unless it falls on Pentecost Sunday, in which case it moves to the first Sunday of June.

50. What did the French government do in the 1920s to honor mothers?

The government began awarding medals to mothers of large families. This was part of an effort to encourage population growth after the enormous loss of life in World War I.

51. When does Nepal celebrate its version of Mother’s Day?

During Mata Tirtha Aunsi (meaning “Pilgrimage of the Mothers of the New Moon”), observed on the last day of the month Baishah, which falls in April or May. Nepalis give gifts to living mothers and make pilgrimages to honor deceased mothers.

52. Which country is the only one in the world to celebrate Mother’s Day on December 22?

Indonesia. The holiday originally celebrated the spirit of all Indonesian women before becoming focused on mothers.

53. How does Serbia celebrate Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is part of a three-Sunday holiday series in December. On the second Sunday, children playfully “tie up” their mother and she must “pay a ransom” of small gifts and sweets to be freed.

54. In which country did Napoleon reportedly propose an early version of Mother’s Day?

France, around 1806. He suggested a holiday to encourage French mothers to have more children, though it wasn’t widely celebrated until much later.

55. How many countries worldwide celebrate some form of Mother’s Day?

More than 50 countries observe a holiday honoring mothers, though dates, names, and traditions vary widely.

What Are the Symbols and Flowers of Mother’s Day? Trivia About Traditions and Customs (Questions 56–70)

From carnations to breakfast in bed, Mother’s Day has its own rich set of symbols and rituals. How well do you know them?

56. What do red and pink carnations symbolize on Mother’s Day?

Red carnations represent love and admiration for a living mother. Pink carnations symbolize gratitude and appreciation.

57. What does a white carnation symbolize on Mother’s Day?

A white carnation honors the memory of a mother who has passed away. Anna Jarvis originally chose white carnations because they were her mother’s favorite.

58. What is the most common way Americans celebrate Mother’s Day?

Taking Mom out for a meal. Whether it’s brunch, lunch, or dinner, dining together remains the most popular activity. Restaurants across the country report their highest traffic of the year on Mother’s Day.

59. In which decade did the red carnation begin replacing the white carnation as the dominant Mother’s Day flower?

The 1920s. Florists introduced red carnations to meet growing demand and to distinguish between honoring living mothers (red) and deceased mothers (white). This change infuriated Anna Jarvis.

60. What is the traditional Mother’s Day flower in many parts of China?

Carnations are popular, but in Chinese culture, the Hemerocallis (day lily) — called xuancao (萱草) — is the traditional “mother’s flower” and has been associated with maternal love for centuries.

61. What is the oldest known celebration honoring a mother figure in history?

Ancient festivals honoring Cybele, the Great Mother of the Gods, celebrated by the Phrygians, and later by the Greeks and Romans. These spring fertility festivals date back thousands of years.

62. What Hindu festival is considered a celebration of motherhood in India?

Durga Puja, a 10-day festival honoring the goddess Durga. The celebration is thought to date back to the 16th century and serves as a time for family reunions.

63. What is the traditional Mother’s Day breakfast custom in many American families?

Breakfast in bed. Children prepare and serve a meal to their mother in bed, often with a handmade card or small gift on the tray.

64. What percentage of Mother’s Day celebrants give handmade gifts or cards?

While exact numbers vary, surveys consistently show that handmade cards from children are among the most treasured gifts mothers receive, even as commercial card sales reach over $1 billion annually.

65. In Hawaii, what is the traditional Mother’s Day gift?

A lei — a garland made of fresh flowers, typically plumerias or orchids. It’s a beautiful extension of Hawaiian culture applied to the holiday.

66. What is the traditional Mother’s Day food in France?

A flower-shaped cake (gâteau de fête des mères). Children often bake it themselves as a gift for their mothers.

67. What is the classic Mother’s Day dish in Ethiopia during the Antrosht festival?

A traditional meat hash. Daughters bring vegetables, butter, and cheese. Sons bring meat. The mother prepares the hash, and the family eats together while singing and dancing.

68. In which country do children traditionally draw portraits of their mothers as a Mother’s Day activity?

Japan. Since the 1950s, Japanese schoolchildren have drawn pictures of their mothers, sometimes entering them in art contests where winning pieces are showcased internationally.

69. What flower is associated with Mother’s Day in Thailand?

Jasmine, which symbolizes the purity and tenderness of a mother’s love.

70. What was the original “Mother’s Day” purpose of Anna Jarvis — a public celebration or a private one?

A private, personal one. Jarvis wanted children to individually honor their own mother through handwritten letters, personal visits, and quiet acts of devotion — not through store-bought cards or mass-market gifts.

Famous Mothers in Pop Culture and Literature: Mother’s Day Quiz Questions (Questions 71–85)

Mothers in movies, books, and television have shaped how we think about motherhood. See if you can match the mom to her story.

71. In the TV show The Simpsons, what is the name of the family’s long-suffering mother?

Marge Simpson (full name: Marjorie Bouvier Simpson). She’s known for her tall blue hair and infinite patience with her family.

72. Who wrote the famous poem “Rock Me to Sleep,” which contains the line “Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight, / Make me a child again just for tonight”?

Elizabeth Akers Allen, writing under the pen name Florence Percy. Published in 1860, it became one of the most beloved poems about maternal longing in American literature.

73. Which ancient Greek goddess is considered the “Mother of the Gods”?

Rhea. She was the mother of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, and Demeter in Greek mythology. The Romans identified her with the Phrygian goddess Cybele.

74. What fictional mother is the central character in the novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott?

Marmee (Mrs. March). She raises her four daughters — Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy — while her husband serves in the Civil War, and is celebrated as one of literature’s most loving mothers.

75. In the Harry Potter series, which mother’s sacrifice provides Harry with magical protection?

Lily Potter. Her act of love in sacrificing her own life to protect baby Harry creates a powerful magical shield that saves him from Voldemort.

76. Who was the Roman goddess of fertility and motherhood celebrated in the festival of Hilaria?

Cybele (adopted from the Phrygian tradition). The Hilaria festival was held around the spring equinox and involved parades, games, and masquerades.

77. What is the name of Bambi’s mother in the classic 1942 Disney film?

She is simply referred to as “Bambi’s mother” or the “Great Princess of the Forest” in the original novel by Felix Salten. Disney never gave her a proper name in the film.

78. Which U.S. president’s mother was named Sara Delano, and she was famously influential in her son’s life?

Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Sara Delano Roosevelt was known for her strong presence in FDR’s personal and political life.

79. What famous painting is often associated with Mother’s Day, even though it was never intended as a tribute to motherhood?

“Whistler’s Mother” — officially titled Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 by James McNeill Whistler (1871). The painting was used on the 1934 U.S. Mother’s Day postage stamp, forever linking it to the holiday.

80. In Greek mythology, who is the goddess of the harvest and the mother of Persephone?

Demeter. Her grief over Persephone’s abduction by Hades is said to cause the changing of the seasons.

81. Which beloved children’s book, published in 1960, asks “Are you my mother?” as a baby bird searches for its parent?

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. It remains one of the most popular early reader books ever published.

82. What is Mother Teresa’s birth name?

Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. Born in 1910 in Skopje (now North Macedonia), she adopted the name Teresa when she became a nun. She was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta in 2016.

83. In the TV series Friends, what is the name of Ross and Monica’s mother?

Judy Geller, played by Christina Pickles. She is known for her not-so-subtle favoritism toward Ross.

84. What classic book by Amy Tan explores the relationship between Chinese-American mothers and their daughters?

The Joy Luck Club (1989). The novel weaves together stories of four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters, exploring cultural gaps and deep maternal bonds.

85. Who played the iconic role of Maria von Trapp, the singing governess who becomes a mother figure to seven children, in the 1965 film The Sound of Music?

Julie Andrews. The film is based on the true story of Maria Augusta von Trapp and the von Trapp family singers.

How Well Do You Know Mother’s Day Records and Surprising Facts? (Questions 86–100)

These final questions cover the most surprising, record-breaking, and little-known facts about Mother’s Day. Think you know everything? Let’s find out.

86. What year was the first Mother’s Day postage stamp issued in the United States?

1934. It featured a reproduction of Whistler’s painting of his mother, along with a vase of white carnations and the inscription “In memory and in honor of the Mothers of America.”

87. Which country celebrates Mother’s Day on the same day as International Women’s Day (March 8)?

Several countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Moldova, honor mothers alongside International Women’s Day on March 8.

88. How old was Anna Jarvis when she heard her mother pray for someone to establish a day honoring mothers?

Twelve years old. The moment occurred after a Sunday school lesson on “Mothers of the Bible” in the early 1870s and became the inspiration for Anna’s lifelong mission.

89. What is the Guinness World Record for the most children born to one mother?

A woman from Shuya, Russia — the wife of Feodor Vassilyev — reportedly gave birth to 69 children between 1725 and 1765, including 16 pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets, and 4 sets of quadruplets. (The record is historic and has never been fully verified by modern standards.)

90. Mother’s Day is the biggest holiday of the year for which industry?

The floral industry. Mother’s Day flower sales account for roughly a quarter of all annual flower purchases in the United States. In 2025, flower spending reached approximately $3.2 billion.

91. What is the record for the oldest woman to give birth?

Records in this area are frequently contested, but verified modern cases include women giving birth via IVF in their late 60s and early 70s. The specifics depend on whether natural conception or assisted reproduction is counted.

92. Approximately how many Mother’s Day cards are exchanged in the United States each year?

Roughly 113 million, making Mother’s Day the third-largest card-exchanging holiday after Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

93. What did Anna Jarvis once do at a restaurant when she saw “Mother’s Day Salad” on the menu?

According to historical accounts, she dumped the salad on the floor in protest. She was enraged that businesses were using the holiday’s name to market commercial products.

94. In what year did Mother’s Day spending in the U.S. first exceed $20 billion?

2013. Spending has more than doubled since then, reaching $35.7 billion in its 2023 peak.

95. What percentage of Americans say they spend more on Mother’s Day than on Father’s Day?

About 62% of Americans say they spend more on Mother’s Day, with only 9% saying they spend more on Father’s Day.

96. When was Father’s Day first celebrated in the United States, and when did it become a national holiday?

Father’s Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Spokane, Washington. However, it did not become a nationwide federal holiday until 1972 — 58 years after Mother’s Day became official.

97. What U.S. state claims to be the birthplace of Mother’s Day?

West Virginia. The Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, hosted the first official Mother’s Day service in 1908 and is now a National Historic Landmark.

98. In what unique way is Mother’s Day celebrated among the Gurage people of Ethiopia?

During the Antrosht festival, families celebrate with traditional singing and dancing. Each family performs songs that tell stories of their family heroes and maternal figures.

99. What did Anna Jarvis want people to do instead of buying commercial cards?

She wanted them to write personal, handwritten letters to their mothers. Jarvis called pre-printed greeting cards “a poor excuse for the letter you are too lazy to write.”

100. If Anna Jarvis could see Mother’s Day today, with its $34+ billion in spending, what would she likely say?

Based on her recorded statements, she would almost certainly be horrified. Late in her life, she reportedly told a journalist with deep bitterness that she regretted ever starting Mother’s Day. She spent her final decades and her entire fortune trying to protect the holiday from the commercial forces she believed had stolen its meaning.

Quick-Reference: Mother’s Day Dates Around the World in 2026

Planning celebrations for mothers in different countries? Here’s a handy reference table.

Why Mother’s Day Trivia Makes Your Celebration More Meaningful

Trivia isn’t just a party game. Every question in this list tells a story about how deeply cultures around the world value motherhood. Knowing that Anna Jarvis fought against commercial greeting cards makes that handwritten note feel more powerful. Learning that Ethiopian families sing songs about maternal heroes adds richness to a holiday we sometimes take for granted.

Mother’s Day 2026 falls on Sunday, May 10. Whether you’re planning a family brunch in Seattle or calling your mom from across the globe, take a moment to appreciate the long, complicated, and deeply human history behind this day. And if you use these trivia questions at your celebration, you might just teach your family something they never knew about the holiday they’ve been celebrating all their lives.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Last updated: March 2026. All spending figures reflect the most recent data available from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.