Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers
around the world! Your hard work does not go unnoticed. All the stressing,
caring, worrying, loving, comforting, and even disciplining you do, helps to
shape our world and future in a very important and big way. Thank you.
Like anything, Mother’s Day had to
start somewhere. This modern holiday that we celebrate here in the United
States honors mothers and motherhood in every sense and way. Whether your
mother is biological or not, if she has been a mother to you, she deserves to
be honored. So there’s a day specifically for it.
Mother’s Day in the United States
started during the early 20th century and is NOT related to or
derived from any other celebrations of mothers or motherhood throughout the
world. It was first celebrated in 1908 because of a woman by the name of Anna
Jarvis. Jarvis had a memorial for her own mother at a church called St.
Andrew’s Methodist Church, which is in Grafton, West Virginia. This church is
now the home of the International Mother’s Day Shrine.
In 1905 Jarvis campaigned to make
Mother’s Day a recognized holiday. That was the year that her mother, Anna
Reeves Jarvis, died. Anna wanted to honor her mother and therefore worked hard
to make a special day that would honor all mothers because they are “the person
who has done more for you than anyone in the world”. And boy does that ring
true.
Anna Jarvis actually cared for wounded
soldiers during the Civil War. She was a peace activist.
The United States Congress initially
rejected Anna’s proposal to make Mother’s Day an official and recognized
holiday. But Jarvis was persistent and continued to campaign. Finally, in 1910
the first Mother’s Day was celebrated, but only locally in West Virginia. In
1911 it was recognized nation wide and in 1914 Woodrow Wilson signed the
proclamation that officially created Mother’s Day. It was to be the “Second
Sunday in May”.
It didn't take long for Mother’s Day
to become commercialized. And that made Anna Jarvis upset. She strongly
resented the fact that people and companies were making money off of the
holiday, which to her, was pure sentiment for her mother. She must have felt a
sense of dishonor and violation because of this, which is too bad. Her
intentions were golden, but you can’t force people to change or not be greedy.
Jarvis actually began to boycott the
commercialization and even threatened to sue to stop it. She even crashed a
convention where carnations and flowers were being sold for Mother’s Day. She
was arrested for disturbance of the peace.
It’s sad that it had to end this way
for Jarvis. But all of this is now history and her story has been forgotten by
most. On the brighter side, her holiday has been adopted by countries all over
the world. I bet she never even fathomed how big this holiday would truly
become.
And however you celebrate it, whether
you fully participate in the commercialism and get your mom a card and flowers,
or some cute little mother’s day trinket. Or if you have a more creative and
unique approach. As long as it comes from the heart, it’s all good. Just show
your mom how much you love and appreciate her.
With
that being said, Happy Mother’s Day!
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