Sunday, May 3, 2015

Making Mother’s Day Memorable by Jacqueline Seewald

How much do you know about the origins of this holiday? The earliest history of Mother’s Day appears to date back to the ancient annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to maternal goddesses.

Early Christians celebrated a Mother's Day of sorts during the festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent in honor of the Virgin Mary. In England the holiday was expanded to include all mothers and became known as Mothering Sunday.

The idea of an official celebration of Mother’s Day in America was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872.  She initially became famous with her Civil War song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Anna Jarvis is actually recognized as the Founder of Mother’s Day in the United States. She never married or had children herself. However, she got the inspiration for celebrating Mother’s Day from her own mother Mrs. Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis, an activist and social worker. Mrs. Jarvis expressed a desire to have a day set aside to honor all mothers, living and dead, and pay tribute to the contributions made by them. 

 By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state in the Union, and on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.  Mother’s Day is now celebrated in several countries including the US, UK, India, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, Mexico, Canada, China, Japan and Belgium. People take the day as an opportunity to pay tribute to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. Sadly, Anna Jarvis became disillusioned by the commercialization of the holiday.

Today mothers are honored with many kinds of gifts: cards, perfume, jewelry, candy, flowers, plants. If a mother is a reader, books are great Mother’s Day gifts, either print or digital. (Of course, I recommend my own novels.)

What most of us who are mothers appreciate most is simply spending time with our children. Sharing a meal like a brunch or dinner together is one way of making the day special. If children live and work too far away to visit, a phone call is always appreciated.


What are your thoughts regarding Mother’s Day? How do you think this holiday should be spent? What would make it memorable in your opinion?



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15 comments:

  1. Cindy SampleMay 3, 2015 at 8:57 AM

    Your posts are always so informative, Jacquie. I never even thought to look up the history of Mother's Day but it certainly was an excellent idea. Now to send your post off to my children:-)

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  2. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 3, 2015 at 9:12 AM

    Hi, Cindy,

    I hope this post gives your children some good ideas on celebrating Mother's Day.

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  3. Nancy Means WrightMay 3, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Very interesting, Jacquie, to read about the origin of Mother's Day that I hadn't been aware of. I can understand, though, why Anna Jarvis became disillusioned with the commercialization of the holiday. Alas, this happens with most holidays that begin with an honest enthusiasm and sense of deep purpose, but lose value through the commercial buying of gifts, et al. On the other hand, it keeps our economy going.

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  4. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 3, 2015 at 10:49 AM

    Anna Jarvis envisioned Mother's Day as a holiday where mothers and daughters would go to church together. That's why she became disillusioned with the materialism that ensued and eventually disavowed any connection with it.

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  5. Susan CoryellMay 4, 2015 at 5:37 AM

    Jacquie: Fascinating history of Mother's Day! Our kids and grands are so far-flung--I am grateful for a call or card. Getting together with the one family in our state for lunch or brunch midway between our homes is nirvana! Thanks for an informative post.

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 4, 2015 at 6:00 AM

      Hi, Susan,

      Somehow, my response to your comment ended up under Pat's. Wonders of the internet!

      Delete
    2. Betty GordonMay 4, 2015 at 6:19 AM

      Jacquie, the historical information re Mother's Day was so enjoyable. How to spend it? I echo the thought of just being with your children - that's enough.

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    3. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 4, 2015 at 9:05 AM

      I agree, Betty. If I get to see my children and grandkids, I can't think of a better Mother's Day.

      Delete
  6. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumMay 4, 2015 at 5:56 AM

    Jacqueline,
    Great post! Last year for Mother's Day, I took my mother to Red Lobster for dinner, never thinking about how crowded it would be. We waited a LONG time for a table and ended up having a very late dinner. This year, I plan to have dinner with her at home. :)

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 4, 2015 at 5:59 AM

      Hi, Pat,

      Eating out on Mother's Day can be a big headache--also very expensive in many cases. I think an at home meal is nice myself.

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  7. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 4, 2015 at 5:57 AM

    Hi, Susan,

    Thanks for dropping by, Susan. I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

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  8. Peter GreenMay 5, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    Aha, Jacquie, the real story! And here my dad had me convinced the nation's florists merely wanted to create another occasion to give flowers. Need I mention he was an ad man and a very good marketer? But it did help the floral industry, as well it should, to honor our wonderful mothers.
    --Peter H. Green, author of Ben;s War with the U. S. Marines and the Patrick MacKenna Mysteries

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    1. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 5, 2015 at 11:57 AM

      You'll be pleased to know that my husband brought a bouquet of twelve red roses to his mother every year. I picked out the cards and we all went out to dinner. My own mother passed away when I was young. So honoring my mother-in-law was extra important.

      Delete
  9. UnknownMay 7, 2015 at 2:44 AM

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    ReplyDelete
  10. Jacqueline SeewaldMay 10, 2015 at 2:40 PM

    Pooja,

    Thanks for dropping by and commenting.

    ReplyDelete

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