Internationally, Mothers Day observances had been in existence for some time. Mothering Sunday, celebrated in the UK and Ireland, is the forth Sunday of Lent and was traditionally the time that Catholics traveled to their Mother Church or regional cathedral for mass. After the Reformation, it became a day for children to visit their parents.
Other days in other countries were also in existence to commemorate and celebrate mothers.
In 1870, Julia Ward Howe, sometimes referred to as the founder of Mothers Day, began a series of anti war observances. Ward Howes Mothers Day was less of a holiday to celebrate motherhood than it was as a call for pacifism and disarmament by women. Early Mothers Day celebrations centered around mothers who had lost sons in the Civil War.
The holiday continued in a handful of cities, mainly Boston under the patronage of Julia Ward Howe, but Mothers Day as we know it today, centered on the receipt of a Mothers Day card, did not truly begin until 1877, although again, no Mothers Day cards were involved. Albion, Michigan resident Juliet Calhoun Blakely took it upon herself to complete the Rev Myron Daughterty, who was upset because of the actions of a local anti temperance group that had forced his son, a temperance advocate to spend the night in a saloon. Blakely called on the support of other mothers from the congregation on behalf of the Reverends son.
In 1907, Mothers Day received national attention when Anna Marie Jarvis held a small celebration on May 9th in Grafton, West Virginia to commemorate the anniversary of her mothers death two years before. Her mother, Maria Reeves Jarvis had been an active Mothers day campaign organizer. As this custom slowly gained popularity throughout the state, Clothing merchant John Wanamker financed the campaign to spread this custom, which had shifted its focus from reform movements and pacifism to an appreciation of mothers in general. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation officially declaring the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day. Today, Mothers Day presents, and the Mothers Day card are important traditions for most families, who see this day as a way to recognize and appreciate their mothers.
A Mothers Day Card
We live in a society of commercialism. It seems that no matter what time of year it is or what is happening with the economy, the merchants try to turn the event into another reason to have a sale. Every possible three day weekend marks a sale of some type. The Martin Luther King Sale, the Presidents Day sale and the luck of the Irish sale. And that is only the first three months of the year. No matter the significance of the day on the calendar, some marketing firm will come up with a way to create a shopping event.
I love to shop and I have to admit that many times I am out amongst the shoppers looking for a bargain at the different sales events. The commercialism did strike me however as I was looking for mothers day cards last year. I originally went to the store for something else completely, but I saw the display of mothers day cards so I thought I would pick one up for my mother and one for my mother-in-law.
There were so many cards in different headings. There were mothers day cards for grandmothers, aunts, sisters, special women in our lives, step mothers, girlfriends, the list was on-going. I could not believe that the card industry had expanded the simple day of honoring our mother's into including buying a card for every woman in our lives.
As I was looking at the mothers day cards I picked out the one for my mother and one for my mother-in-law. I then was holding three for my sisters and one for my god mother. I was then looking for one for my husband's god mother and that is where I stopped. I realized I had met his god mother one time at our wedding reception. He did not have a close relationship with her. She played no role in making him the person that he is today.
I found that I was picking out mothers day cards to send just because they were there. If I had bought all the cards that I was holding it would have cost me over twenty dollars. I looked at what I had in my hand. Why would I buy mothers day cards for my sisters? They did not raise me. They have children and are mothers, but not to me. We are friends as well as sisters, but that did not mean I needed to send them mothers day cards. I put back all of the cards except the one for my mother. I liked the card and what it said. I thought my husband should pick out the card that would be sent to his mother. I am glad I did not support the commercialism of mother's day.
Both Jerry Glynn & Ann Marier are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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Bouquets For Mothers Day You just have to pick. Pick a fragrance family, find a deal usually a gift set, and make your choice. Its hard to go too far wrong