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The Mother of Mother's Day

By Peter Lloyd

Contrary to the opinion of many, Hallmark Cards did not invent Mother’s Day. Anna Marie Jarvis began a campaign to honor all mothers after her mother’s death in 1907. Seven years later President Woodrow Wilson approved a joint resolution of the United States Congress to designate the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in the United States.

Two years before the day became official, Anna trademarked “Mother’s Day” and “second Sunday in May.” Was this a sign of her attention to detail? She did pay attention to detail, specifying that the day be spelled “Mother’s Day,” the singular possessive, rather than “Mothers’ Day,” to recognize and honor each mother rather than all mothers as a group.

photoBut the official designation also brought Anna disappointment. She protested the commercialization that followed her successful inauguration of the holiday evidenced in the giving of greeting cards to express sentiment instead of, Anna argued, actually taking the time to honor mothers. In her words,

“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 pretty sentiment.”

The creator of Mother’s Day spent her entire inheritance fighting what she considered the abuse of the holiday she had created. In 1948 she was arrested for disturbing the peace protesting the commercialization of Mother’s Day.

Now celebrated around the world in most countries on the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day was inspired by the mother of Anna Jarvis, similarly named Ann Reeves Jarvis, mother of eleven children. Mother Jarvis found time to organize Mothers’ Day Work Clubs, established to improve health and sanitary conditions and to care for both Union and Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War.

Inspired by an exceptional mother, Mother’s Day was created to honor each and every mother.

Anna Jarvis died in poverty at the age of 84 in 1948. The mother of Mother’s Day had no children and never married.

See also:
Peter Lloyd’s mother, born Doris Emma LeFave in Alpena, Michigan, was the loving mother of five, a poet, and his inspiration as a writer.

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