The Origins of Mother's Day Harbor a Grim Past Revealed
Revamped Analysis:
Mother's Day, a day known for its tranquil, run-of-the-mill celebrations, seems mundane at first. But the story behind America's Mother's Day is anything but dull. Born amidst the bloodshed of the Civil War and sculpted by trailblazing women, it transformed into a battleground—a clash between profits and principles. This tangled history is as dramatic as a suspense novel.
Early Precursors of Mother's Day
Mothers have graced the world for ages, and so have the rituals acknowledging their importance. These ceremonies can be traced back to at least the ancient Greeks and Romans, who revered mother goddesses like Cybele and Rhea[1]. During the Middle Ages, the Church drew inspiration from these pagan traditions, creating Mothering Sunday, a day dedicated to honoring the Mother Church[2]. While various "Mother's Days" are celebrated around the globe, these global events did not shape Mother's Day in the United States.
The Roots Run Deep
Mother's Day officially took root in the United States in 1914, though its origins can be traced back before the Civil War. Social activist and community organizer, Ann Reeves Jarvis, also known as "Mother Jarvis," was a forerunner of this movement. She championed Mothers' Day Work Clubs, which aimed to lower infant mortality rates by educating mothers on childcare, sanitation, and disease control[1].
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Mothers' Day Work Clubs redirected their focus to caring for wounded soldiers on both sides of the conflict. After the war, Jarvis promoted "Mothers' Friendship Day," a day dedicated to reconciliation among former Union and Confederate soldiers[1].
Women’s Unity and Dispute
Jarvis wasn't the only woman advocating for a Mother's Day. Abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe authored the "Mother's Day Proclamation" in 1870, calling on mothers to unite for peace[3]. Juliet Calhoun Blakely, a temperature activist from Michigan, also inspired a local Mother's Day celebration in the 1870s[3]. The stage was set for Mother's Day, but Jarvis's passing in 1905 set it in motion.
Her daughter, Anna Jarvis, picked up the torch. On the first anniversary of her mother's death, Anna announced plans for a memorial service honoring her mother. She envisioned a national holiday meant to recognize the sacrifices mothers make for their children. In 1908, Jarvis organized the first official Mother's Day celebration, sparking a movement that eventually led to President Woodrow Wilson declaring it a national holiday in 1914[2].
The Commercialization of Mother's Day
Anna Jarvis viewed Mother's Day as a day of sentiment, not profit, but capitalists such as John Wanamaker and H.J. Heinz saw it differently. They seized the opportunity presented by the widespread interest in the holiday and quickly transformed it into a commercial affair—a leap from a meaningful day to honor mothers and promote peace to a shopping spree for mom[4].
Jarvis's protests against the commercialization of Mother's Day fell on deaf ears. Frustrated, she denounced businesses that made money off the holiday, labeling them as charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers, and termites[4]. She took her displeasure public by throwing a "Mother's Day Salad" on the floor of a Philadelphia restaurant[4]. She despised the greeting card industry, writing that "maudlin, insincere printed cards or ready-made telegrams mean nothing except that you’re too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone else in the world"[4].
But the flower industry was her greatest nemesis. Jarvis's opposition to the flower trade was intense. She sent thousands of buttons adorned with the official Mother's Day flower, the white carnation, to women's groups, urging them not to buy flowers[4]. She threatened Florist Telegraph Delivery (FTD) with a trademark lawsuit for merging carnations with the words "Mother's Day." She even protested the U.S. government's Mother's Day stamp, viewing the carnations in the stamp as an advertisement for the flower industry[4].
The Life and Death of the Mother of Mother's Day
Despite her tireless efforts, Anna Jarvis witnessed the decline of her mission. By mid-century, she was impoverished, living in her sister's home in Philadelphia, far from the influence she once wielded[4]. In 1943, as she tried to gather signatures for a petition to abolish Mother's Day altogether, Jarvis was committed to the Marshall Square Sanitarium in West Chester, Pennsylvania[4]. The monetary support for her care came from representatives of the Flower and Greeting Card industry[4]. Whether this was a public relations move or a final dig is a matter of perspective. Jarvis passed away on November 24, 1948, childless and disillusioned.
While her dream of a humble, sentiment-focused Mother's Day remained unrealized, the holiday lives on in its commercial form. Whether we choose to emulate the spirit of its founders or indulge in the festivities offered by capitalists is a choice we all make come Mother's Day.
- As the history of Mother's Day intertwines with entertainment over the years, pop-culture portrayals often emphasize the holiday's transformation from a solemn occasion to a commercial event.
- Amidst the tangled history of Mother's Day, early advocates like Ann Reeves Jarvis used books and social-media networks to spread awareness about their cause.
- Despite the commercialization of Mother's Day, the personal stories behind the holiday continue to serve as inspiration for writers, traversing the realms of fiction, biography, and history.
