The History of Mother’s Day: Anna Jarvis and the World
Most of us celebrate Mother’s Day every second Sunday of May. It’s the date celebrated by most countries including the United States. The first legal celebration of Mother’s Day as a holiday dates back to 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in honor of mothers. But only a few people know about the real history of how that proclamation came to be.
It was Anna Jarvis who is the mother of Mother’s Day. What started as a memorial held for her mother’s death on May 12, 1907 has ended up as a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday. Her efforts did not go in vain when it finally became a legal holiday in 1914.
But before Anna Jarvis, there has been a previous attempt for the national celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States. Julia Howe’s “Mother’s Day Proclamation” written in 1870 was more than an opinionated reaction to the American Civil War. It was also associated with her feminist belief that women have a role in shaping the social and political scheme of the country. Julia Howe was a prominent social activist of her time.
But around the world, Mother’s Day is actually celebrated not just on the second Sunday of May. Most countries have their own name and origins for the celebration of the day to honor their mothers. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it’s celebrated every fourth Sunday in lent and called Mothering Sunday.
It is believed to have originated from the 16th century Christian practice of visiting one’s mother church annually. This means the children in convents were reunited with their mothers on this day. In Japan, it is celebrated at the same time as the United States but it was initially commemorated for the birthday of the Emperor’s mother. In Thailand, it is celebrated together with the Queen’s birthday. This is part of the campaign of promoting the Royal family. Most Roman Catholic regions associate celebrating Mother’s Day with the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.
Mother’s Day has come a long way during history. In fact, almost a decade after the proclamation of Mother’s Day as a holiday, it flourished dramatically and became very popular. Gift giving became a practice during this day.
Commercialization of Mother’s Day through printed greeting cards and other ready to give gift items caused Anna Jarvis to become disappointed. She spent most of her family fortune campaigning against the holiday. She is now going against the holiday she campaigned to get recognized. She exclaimed, “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother—and then eat most of it yourself. A petty sentiment!”
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