Shutterstock / Evgeny Atamanenko©Mother’s Day is on March 10 this year, but do you know the history behind this cherished celebration?
The History of Mothering Sunday
In the UK, Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It was traditionally a day when worshippers would visit their “mother” church (either the church where they were baptised, the local parish church, or the nearest cathedral).
Since most people — even domestic servants — were given the day off for this visit, it soon became an important occasion for the family to get together.
Eventually the day lost some of its religious significance, and evolved into the secular tradition of giving gifts to one’s mother.
This was in particular thanks to the efforts of an American woman named Anna Jarvis.
Mother’s Day and Anna Jarvis
Mother’s Day began thanks to a determined woman named Anna Jarvis.
For years, Anna campaigned for the US Government to set aside a day to honour mothers. She did this partly to recognise her own mother, who had been a peace activity and a nurse during the American Civil War.
Her campaign began in 1905. By 1911, all US states were observing the holiday. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially set aside the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
The culmination of all her hard work, this moment should have been one to savour for Anna.
But, unfortunately, some had other ideas for her holiday.
A Hallmark occasion
Soon after its establishment, companies like greetings card giant Hallmark began selling Mother’s Day cards, and encouraging people to buy expensive gifts.
Anna strongly disagreed with this focus on profit over sentiment. She soon began to campaign for a boycott of the very movement she had started.
She organised protests, threatened to launch lawsuits, and was even arrested for disturbing the peace.
Her efforts were in vain; the commercial juggernaut could not be stopped.
And every year all throughout her struggles, Mother’s Day would come around and Anna would receive hundreds and hundreds of cards from people all over the world, keen to celebrate her role in bringing the holiday to life.
Celebrate your way
No matter how you celebrate, follow Anna Jarvis’s sentiment that the most important thing is to recognising your mother as “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world”.
Treat mum to a special lunch or cuppa this Mother’s Day. Here’s some recipes you might like:
Iain McDonald I am the Digital Content Editor at the “Friend”, making me responsible for managing the flow of interesting and entertaining content on the magazine’s website and social media channels.
