Unveiling the Unanticipated Underbelly of Mother's Day: A Glimpse into Its Shrouded Past
Get Ready for a Fascinating Spin on Mother's Day History
Mother's Day, commonly perceived as a sentimental, low-key celebration of moms, complete with flowers and greeting cards, has an unexpectedly tumultuous backstory. Birthed amidst the heated chaos of the Civil War, this holiday sprang to life through the efforts of radical women, and it swiftly transformed into a hotbed of discord between profit and principle.
Take a Step Back to Motherhood's Ancestral Roots
Our affection for mothers stretches back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who honored mother goddesses like Cybele and Rhea in elaborate festivals. During the Middle Ages, the church added a Christian twist to the tradition with Mothering Sunday, a day to honor the Mother Church. Albeit celebrated on various days across the globe, these foreign Mother's Days don't bear the same resemblance to the American Mother's Day.
A Bloody Origin Story
The American Mother's Day was officially recognized in 1914, but its roots stem from before the Civil War. Sociologist and community organizer Ann Reeves Jarvis, often called "Mother Jarvis," championed the Mothers' Day Work Clubs – grassroots public health groups dedicated to reducing infant mortality rates by providing mothers with essential knowledge on childcare and hygiene practices. In 1861, when the Civil War erupted, these clubs focused on caring for wounded soldiers on both sides of the conflict.
In 1868, with the Civil War behind them, Jarvis initiated "Mothers' Friendship Day," a peace-focused initiative aimed at bringing together former Union and Confederate soldiers to reconcile. "Mother Jarvis" wrote, "Why don't the mothers of mankind interfere in these matters to prevent the waste of that human life of which they alone bear and know the cost?" A powerful statement echoing the heart of Mother's Day.
Moreover, during this period, other women like abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe advocated for a day of peace. In 1870, Howe penned the "Mother's Day Proclamation," urging all mothers to unite for world peace. Howe persisted in her campaign for a holiday called "Mother's Peace Day" to be celebrated every June 2.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, Juliet Calhoun Blakely inspired a local Mother's Day celebration in the 1870s. Cultural momentum was gathering around Mother's Day, but it wasn't until the death of Ann Reeves Jarvis in 1905 that her daughter, Anna, felt compelled to act.
The Birth of Mother's Day
On the first anniversary of her mother's death, Anna Jarvis declared her intentions to host a memorial service to honor her mother. She envisioned this as the foundation for a national holiday commemorating the sacrifices mothers make for their families.
In 1908, Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother's Day celebration at a church in West Virginia, with the support of John Wanamaker and H.J. Heinz. This event was a success, inspiring more towns and churches to embrace Mother's Day. However, this triumph also paved the way for capitalism to hijack the holiday.
A Battle for the Soul of Mother's Day
As Mother's Day gained popularity, ambitious business leaders like Wanamaker and Heinz seized the opportunity to turn the celebration into a commercial bonanza. Jarvis, who believed Mother's Day to be a day of sentiment and not profit, increasingly objected to the holiday's commercialization.
By 1920, Jarvis denounced her former financial backers, rebuked people for giving gifts and cards to their mothers, and condemned anyone who made money off the holiday as unscrupulous profiteers.
Anna Jarvis' Crusade Against Mother's Day
Overwhelmed by the commercial exploitation of Mother's Day, Ann Jarvis became determined to restore the holiday's original meaning. She lambasted restaurants offering Mother's Day specials, decried the bouquets of flowers sold for the occasion, and denounced greeting cards as insincere.
The flower industry, in particular, became Jarvis' prime enemy. To counteract their influence, she sent thousands of buttons featuring the white carnation (the official Mother's Day flower) to various women's groups, urging them to boycott flower purchases. She threatened a trademark lawsuit against Florist Telegraph Delivery (FTD) for combining carnations with the phrase "Mother's Day." She even went so far as to sabotage floral arrangements by scattering carnation petals in public places and throwing a "Mother's Day Salad" on the floor of a Philadelphia eatery.
The commercialization of Mother's Day continued to grow, and Jarvis found herself losing the battle against the machinations of corporate America. In her despair, she eventually became impoverished and died in 1948 – a mere spectator to the Disney-fied version of her creation that was now consumerism's favorite holiday.
In conclusion, the creation and commercialization of Mother's Day in the United States have a complex and controversial history. The initial intention of honoring mothers gave way to the fierce battle between sentiment and profit. Today, Mother's Day has maintained its sentimental value, while the commercial aspects remain a thriving industry.
From the turbulent origins in social and political movements to its modern-day commercialization, the history of Mother's Day offers an intriguing blend of motherhood, peace, and pop-culture. Delve into books that unravel the intricacies of this noble day, or follow its evolution on social media to understand its full impact on our society and entertainment. The transformation from a day of peace advocacy to a widely celebrated commercial festival in pop-culture is a fascinating study in itself, showcasing how traditions can changeover time.
