Mother’s Day is celebrated worldwide to honour those mothers who sacrifice so much for their children. Mother’s Day is celebrated with love, harmony, and a sense of togetherness like every other occasion.But mainly, it falls in March or May every year. Anna Jarvis is the person who initiated Mother’s Day in the United States.
Anna Jarvis is credited with initiating Mother's Day in the United States. Deeply affected by the death of her mother in 1905, she embarked on a campaign to establish a day dedicated to honoring mothers. Her motivation stemmed from a desire to acknowledge the sacrifices and contributions of mothers rather than allow the occasion to be commercialized.
Anna Jarvis began her campaign for Mother’s Day in 1905 following the death of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. Her mother had organized "Mother's Day Work Clubs" to address public health issues and had always expressed a wish that one day someone would dedicate a memorial to all mothers. Inspired by her mother's work and wishes, Anna Jarvis sought to create a national day to honor mothers.
The first modern-day Mother's Day was organized by Anna Jarvis as a service of worship at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. This service took place in 1908 and marked the beginning of the Mother’s Day tradition as we know it. Today, this church is recognized as the International Mother’s Day Shrine.
During the American Civil War, Anna Jarvis served as a peace activist. She cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the conflict, reflecting her broader humanitarian concerns. This background influenced her vision for Mother's Day, which she originally conceived as a day for mothers to promote peace.
The original concept of Mother’s Day, as envisioned by Anna Jarvis, was to honor mothers and express gratitude for their sacrifices and contributions. Jarvis intended for it to be a personal and family-oriented occasion where individuals would honor their own mothers, showing appreciation through acts of kindness and gratitude rather than through commercial means.
The initial name proposed by Anna Jarvis was "Mother's Day For Peace." The idea was to have a day when mothers could unite and pray for peace, advocating against the horrors of war that claimed the lives of their sons and husbands. This reflects Jarvis's deep-seated values as a peace activist.
In 1908, Anna Jarvis's proposal to make Mother's Day an official holiday was rejected by the U.S. Congress. Some congressmen jokingly argued that if Mother's Day became a holiday, they would also have to proclaim a "Mother-in-law's Day." Despite this setback, Jarvis continued her efforts and gradually gained support from various states and individuals.
West Virginia, Anna Jarvis’s home state, was the first to officially recognize Mother's Day as a local holiday in 1910. This recognition marked a significant milestone in Jarvis’s campaign, providing momentum for the establishment of Mother's Day as a national holiday.
President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother's Day a national holiday in 1914. He signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, a day to honor "the best mother in the world, your mother." This national recognition was a culmination of Anna Jarvis's persistent efforts and marked the official establishment of Mother's Day in the United States.
Anna Jarvis was deeply resentful of the commercialization of Mother's Day. She envisioned the day as a personal and sentimental occasion, not as an opportunity for businesses to profit. By the early 1920s, companies began printing and selling pre-made Mother's Day cards and gifts, which Jarvis felt undermined the true spirit of the holiday. She launched boycott campaigns against these commercial enterprises, arguing that Mother’s Day should be celebrated with handmade and handwritten cards and heartfelt gestures.
Anna Jarvis believed that Mother's Day should be celebrated with personal, heartfelt gestures rather than commercial gifts. She advocated for handmade and handwritten greeting cards and emphasized the importance of cherishing and pampering mothers through meaningful actions. Jarvis felt that the commercialization of Mother's Day detracted from its original purpose of honoring individual mothers for their unique contributions and sacrifices.
Anna Jarvis was particular about the spelling of "Mother’s Day," insisting on the singular possessive form. She intended the holiday to honor each individual mother, not mothers collectively. This specific spelling emphasizes the personal nature of the holiday, aligning with her vision of Mother's Day as a time to celebrate one's own mother’s unique contributions and sacrifices.
Many countries around the world took inspiration from the U.S. declaration of Mother’s Day. They adopted similar practices, often associating the day with giving carnations, a tradition started in the United States. However, the dates and months of celebration vary across different countries. In some cultures, not honoring mothers on Mother’s Day is considered offensive, while in others, the celebration remains relatively low-key and less commercialized.
In Christianity, Mother's Day is strongly associated with the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary holds a significant place in Christian theology and is often honored for her role as the mother of Christ. This religious connection underscores the importance of motherhood within Christian communities, and Mother's Day is seen as an occasion to celebrate and reflect on maternal virtues.
While Islam does not have a specific concept of Mother's Day, the Quran teaches children to prioritize love and respect for their mothers. Mothers are highly revered in Islamic tradition, often considered more deserving of respect and care than fathers. This emphasis on honoring mothers aligns with the spirit of Mother's Day, even though the specific holiday is not part of Islamic practice.
In Hindu tradition, the equivalent of Mother's Day is Matatirtha Aunsi, celebrated in Nepal. This festival is observed in the month of Baisakh according to the lunar calendar and involves honoring mothers with special foods and rituals. It is a day-long event where people visit the Matatirtha pond, take holy baths, and offer a tarpan to help their mothers achieve salvation and bring prosperity to the family.
On Matatirtha Aunsi, mothers are honored with special foods and rituals. People visit the Matatirtha pond, where some take a holy bath and offer a tarpan—a ritual offering to honor their mothers and help them achieve salvation. There is also a legend that people can see their mother's face in the pond on this day. This festival reflects the deep cultural and spiritual reverence for mothers in Nepalese society.
Mother’s Day in India is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. This timing aligns with the American tradition, reflecting the global influence of the U.S. establishment of Mother’s Day.
Mother's Day in India is highly commercialized. In the lead-up to the day, markets are filled with merchandise such as greeting cards, customized mugs, keychains, soft toys, and photo frames. Children buy gifts for their mothers, and families often celebrate by dining out, cutting cakes, and going on outings. Many brands offer sales and coupons, making it a significant commercial event. Despite this, the underlying sentiment of honoring and appreciating mothers remains.
Mother’s Day is gradually gaining popularity in China. An article in the Chinese Government’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, noted that while the origin of Mother's Day is in the United States, it has been accepted and embraced by the Chinese people. The celebration emphasizes heartfelt greetings and appreciation rather than just the exchange of gifts.
Anna Jarvis expected Mother's Day to be a day of recognizing mothers for their work, labor, and sacrifices. She envisioned a day filled with personal expressions of love and gratitude, rather than one overshadowed by commercial activities. Jarvis hoped that people would honor their mothers through meaningful actions and heartfelt gestures, ensuring that the significance of their contributions was acknowledged and appreciated.
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