Mother's Day Is Sunday

It is the time of year to pick out a lovely greeting card and order some pretty flowers, for Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 10th, 2026. It is a day that was first promoted by the West Virginia native, Anna Jarvis. With Jarvis campaigning for a day to commemorate all mothers after her own mother passed away. For her mother had frequently expressed a desire to have a day that commended mothers and the "matchless service" they render to humanity. President Woodrow Wilson agreed. With Wilson making Mother's Day on official holiday with his Mother's Day Proclamation that he signed on May 09th, 2914.

In his Mother's Day Proclamation, President Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and called upon government officials to display the United States flag on all government buildings as a "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country". With the Pew Research Center reporting that more telephone calls are made on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year. And the National Retail Federation reporting that Mother's Day spending is expected to reach a record $38 Billion this year. For even in times of economic uncertainty, according to the National Retail Federation's Chief Economist, Mark Mathews, "Mother's Day remains a priority for many Americans, and they plan to lean into the holiday . . . "

In Alabama, a lot of rural Churches hold their annual homecoming that also features a potluck dinner on Mother's Day. However, some other Mother's Day events that are taking place throughout Alabama, The Beautiful, include a Mother's Day tea hosted by Lilie's Cup at the Arlington Historic House and Gardens in Birmingham on Sunday at two in the afternoon. The Birmingham District Brewing Company's Mother's Day Market featuring local vendors from 11AM until 2PM. And in the Montgomery area, the Alabama Safari park is offering every Mom a free bucket of animal feed when they tour their 350 acre drive-through park for Mother's Day.

In Alabama, football fans take a special note of Mother's Day. As the famed coach for Alabama's football pride, Crimson Tide, Paul "Bear" Bryant, is known for his 1970s era Mother's Day commercial for South Central Bell. According to legend, "Bear" Bryant ad-libbed the famous last line in the advertisement. A statement which was prefaced with, "Have you called your mama today?" To which "Bear" Bryant answers with the touching emotion of, "I sure wish I could call mine." The advertisement is available on YouTube at various sites. With one of those sites being https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVfMuGVZcGI.

Happy Mother's Day!

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, poet, reporter, and columnist who write on politics, current affairs, and the arts.