What do you know about Anna Jarvis and the origins of Mother’s Day? Read this article to learn all you need to know. It will also teach you about the traditions of Mother’s Day and the meaning behind it.
You will have a much deeper appreciation for the day when you know these 10 fundamentals. If you want to make the most of the day, consider giving something meaningful to your mom on Mother’s Day.
Anna Jarvis
The mother of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, didn’t trust profiteers and fundraisers. She fought against commercialization and went broke fighting the industry. The following are 10 fundamentals about Mother’s Day that you likely didn’t learn in school.
Let’s look at the first one, first. Anna Jarvis believed in Mother’s Day so much that she refused to let it become a “merchandising” holiday.
One of the fundamentals of Mother’s Day is to honor your mother and show her how much you love her. Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a solemn, intimate celebration.
There’s no need to purchase gifts to show her that you care. Instead, spend quality time together and share a meal. This way, your mom will appreciate your effort and be touched.
Activists of the 1870s helped spread the idea of Mother’s Day. Jarvis’ mother, Ann Reeves, worked to fight against commercialism and exploitation of the holiday.
In fact, the first Mother’s Day movement began with Jarvis’ mother, who, in 1858, was a peace activist who campaigned against maternal mortality.
While mothers are still the main caregiver, men are also the breadwinner. Dad is the breadwinner. While the women are often the primary caregivers, men play the role of the breadwinner and the family’s breadwinner.
Both of these roles are important, but they need to be respected and acknowledged. However, there are also ways to celebrate the father.
Traditions of Mother’s Day
Did you know that there are many traditions of Mother’s Day that you didn’t learn in school? For example, in France, children give their mothers flowers-shaped cakes, and the French government encourages children to give their mothers medals.
In other countries, such as India, the day honors the mother goddess Durga, and families prepare special meals. In Thailand, mothers celebrate the holiday on Sirikit’s birthday.
Anna Jarvis first had the idea for Mother’s Day after her mother died. She traced the origin of the holiday back to a prayer she penned in 1876. In this prayer, she celebrated the service and sacrifice of her mother.
Today, it is recognized as a holiday that celebrates all motherhood. Here are some of the most interesting traditions of Mother’s Day that you didn’t learn in school.
Anna Jarvis, the first to introduce Mother’s Day, fought for its recognition and was even sued for it. She fought for the holiday and even had 33 Mother’s Day lawsuits pending at the same time. Jarvis’ goal was to keep the term “Mother’s” singular, so it would be easy to say “Mother’s Day.”
In addition, she wanted each family to honor the individual mother in their lives. Hence, the flower’s name has been derived from the flower of her mother, the white carnation.
Depending on the country, the date of Mother’s Day varies. For example, Hong Kong celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, which falls on May 8 this year.
In Britain, the holiday is associated with Mothering Sunday, the church where someone is baptised. As a result, Mothering Sunday has become one of the largest selling holidays of flowers and gifts.
Origins of Mother’s Day
The origins of Mother’s Day were actually not what we learned in school. It was a prayer that Anna Jarvis prayed to her mother in 1876, after a lesson about motherhood.
Anna hoped that by celebrating the mother-child relationship, we would honor the mothers in our lives. Her mother was an influential figure in her life and was also a social reformer who helped other women.
The celebration of motherhood has its roots in ancient Greece, where mothers and daughters were revered in festivals. The ancient Greeks worshipped the goddess Rhea and celebrated her life with rituals and festivals.
The United Kingdom also celebrated Mother’s Day on May 12, and was originally dedicated to “Mother Church,” but was later broadened to honor human mothers. Today, many countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan, and Australia.
The celebration of mothers was born nearly a century ago, in Grafton, West Virginia, and was founded by Anna Jarvis. Jarvis was a social activist and sent hundreds of white carnations to a church in Grafton, West Virginia, but the national holiday didn’t take off until eight years later.
Jarvis’ efforts to raise awareness about the importance of honoring moms made an impact, and Woodrow Wilson declared the day a federal holiday in 1914.
In the early 20th century, Jarvis’ mother’s name became associated with a national holiday, and she spent the rest of her life trying to protect the holiday from commercialization.
Her mother’s favorite flower was the white carnation, which made it the original flower for Mother’s Day. Jarvis even sought a meeting with Eleanor Roosevelt, a fellow reformer.
Meaning of Mother’s Day
The true meaning of Mother’s Day lies in the way we recognize the importance of our mothers. Many remarkable women had wished to be mothers, but never had the chance.
While some of these women passed on before the day arrived, others recently lost their children. Mother’s Day does not offer much solace to these women. If you’re looking for the true meaning of Mother’s Day, consider the following ideas.
The word “mother” came into use in the 20th century. Historians believe this was a reaction against the increasing number of women who were entering the workforce.
It’s important to note that Jarvis used the word “mother” in a singular form to denote this. Jarvis also wanted the phrase to emphasize that motherhood is a “homecoming” for mothers.
Although the United States is widely credited with founding Mother’s Day, the original idea came from an anti-war movement. Anna Jarvis, a prominent American poet, is generally credited with the first Mother’s Day celebration.
Julia Ward Howe, the author of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the mother of Anna Jarvis, promoted the idea of Mother’s Day as a peace-oriented holiday in 1872.
Instead of spending Mother’s Day with a mother who you don’t know very well, consider an activity that connects you to her. This activity can be anything from singing lullabies to reading bedtime stories. Mothers know their children the best, so take time to show your love by doing it.
Your smile will express your gratitude for the care you provide. So don’t forget to acknowledge her for all she’s done for you and your family.
Commercialization of Mother’s Day
Jarvis, the lady responsible for the concept of Mother’s Day, did not like the commercialization of this holiday.
She had hoped to preserve the holiday’s spiritual and cultural roots, but instead it became an annual commercial holiday. During the Great Depression, Americans pursued policies of cutbacks and retrenchment, and sales of Mother’s Day items fell precipitously.
Florists and confectionery stores reported annual sales of $571 million dipping to as low as $271 million. However, this came to an end as the New Deal revived the economy, and Mother’s Day sales began to increase.
Although Mother’s Day is an important day for moms, commercialism has distorted the day’s meaning. In fact, the commercialization of Mother’s Day has surpassed Valentine’s Day in commercialism.
Despite this, women still want to spend time with their families and celebrate their mothers. A recent Mediabrands poll found that six in ten moms would rather spend time with their children instead of shopping for expensive gifts.
Anna Jarvis’s efforts to change Mother’s Day have resulted in a heightened interest in the holiday. In 1907, she hosted a private Mother’s Day celebration in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, she was instrumental in a church service, which was later attended by many people.
In 1912, the Mother’s Day International Association was formed and Mother’s Day has become one of the most popular national holidays. Jarvis was unsuccessful in her attempts to end the commercialization of the holiday.
Despite the commercialization of Mother’s Day, its roots were in the love of motherhood. Anna Jarvis, the woman who started the holiday, was an outspoken critic of the commercialization of the holiday.
She spent six years campaigning for the holiday’s establishment and the apostrophe was moved up a letter in 1914, making the holiday more commercial than ever. Her intention was to honor the sacrifices that women made for their families and communities.