All about the day for mom

By Rachel Zuckerman | Manor Ink

Have you ever thought about how Mother’s Day came to be? Well, if not, I have. So that’s why, my dear readers, I’m telling you how we celebrate one day of the year devoted to our lovely mothers.

Mother’s Day can be found in nearly every country around the world, but its roots primarily date back to the United States in the 19th century. Two women, Anna Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe, both thought that there should be a day dedicated to mothers, with a focus on peace and reconciliation. Jarvis organized “Mothers Day Work Clubs” to teach mothers how to care for their children, and later became active in unifying the country in the aftermath of the Civil War. On the other hand, Howe wrote a “Mothers Day Proclamation,” calling on mothers to unite for peace.

Now get this, Anna Jarvis had a daughter named Anna, who after her mother’s death, dedicated her life to establishing Mother’s Day. Making it a memorial service for her own mother, daughter Anna held the first widely recognized Mother’s Day celebration in Grafton, WV, in 1908.

To nobody’s surprise, it gained momentum, and had spread to numerous states by 1912. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared Mother’s Day a national holiday, to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. No surprise, people soon started commercializing it by selling cards, flowers, and gifts, even though the younger Jarvis wanted it solely to honor mothers. She felt disillusioned after the holiday became commercialized, and wanted to abolish it. This time, however, her efforts failed, and Mother’s Day is still celebrated to this day.

Now my fellow readers, after you’ve learned about the history behind the day for mothers, I hope you can wish your dear mom a happy Mother’s Day, and spend the time honoring her for all she’s done for you and for others in your life.