<P> Internationally, there are a large variety of Mother's Day celebrations with different origins and traditions, with some now also having been influenced by this more recent American tradition . </P> <P> During the 19th century, women's peace groups in the United States tried to establish holidays and regular activities in favor of peace and against war . A common early activity was the meeting of groups of mothers whose sons had fought or died on opposite sides of the American Civil War . </P> <P> In 1868, Ann Jarvis, mother of Anna Jarvis, created a committee to establish a "Mother's Friendship Day", the purpose of which was "to reunite families that had been divided during the Civil War ." Jarvis--who had previously organized "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to improve sanitation and health for both Union and Confederate encampments undergoing a typhoid outbreak--wanted to expand this into an annual memorial for mothers, but she died in 1905 before the celebration became popular . Her daughter, who became almost obsessed with her, would continue her mother's efforts . </P> <P> There were several limited observances in the 1870s and the 1880s but none achieved resonance beyond the local level . At the time, Protestant schools in the United States already held many celebrations and observations such as Children's Day, Temperance Sunday, Roll Call Day, Decision Day, Missionary Day and others . In New York City, Julia Ward Howe led a "Mother's Day for Peace" anti-war observance on June 2, 1872, which was accompanied by a "Appeal to womanhood throughout the world" (nowadays known as Mother's Day Proclamation). The observance continued in Boston for about 10 years under Howe's personal sponsorship, then died out . In these celebrations, mothers all around the world would work towards world peace . </P>

Who first suggested a mother's day holiday in the united states