It's the second Sunday of May, Mothers' Day! Though the holiday is widely regarded as a time for hugs, kisses, and homemade breakfasts to show love for your mother, the holiday itself has darker historical roots.
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| Anna M. Jarvis |
Jarvis had originally intended the holiday to be a personal celebration between mothers and their children. But then flower, candy, and card companies began using the holiday for commercial purposes. Angry and disgusted, Jarvis spent her personal inheritance fighting to return the holiday to its original purposes, denouncing the companies and filing lawsuits against them up until her death in 1948. She died without achieving her goal.
West Virginian Katharine Antolini, who wrote her Ph.D dissertation on Anna Jarvis, summarized Jarvis's life, saying, "This woman, who died penniless in a sanitarium in a state of dementia, was a woman who could have profited from Mother's Day if she wanted to...But she railed against those who did, and it cost her everything, financially and physically."
I thought it was a sad commentary on our society that a day intended to be a simple celebration of something as beautiful as the love between a mother and her children became tainted by the exploitation of commercial businesses. But I also recognize that these companies were simply capitalizing on what they saw as a prime business opportunity. That is understandable, given the growing consumerism of the 1900s.
What do you guys think? Were the companies disrespecting Mothers' Day by turning it into a commercial opportunity?
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day
http://www.biography.com/news/anna-jarvis-mother-of-modern-mothers-day-20826125
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day
http://www.biography.com/news/anna-jarvis-mother-of-modern-mothers-day-20826125
Thanks Katherine! I found this post really interesting.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this post, I wanted to learn more about the woman who inspired the day, Ann Reeves Jarvis. Apparently, she was teaching Sunday School one day about mothers in the Bible, and closed the prayer, saying “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother’s day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.” Anna Jarvis remembered that day for the rest of her life.
Ann Jarvis was dedicated to aiding mothers in her community. She formed Mothers' Day Work Clubs to improve health and sanitary conditions, in attempts to improve the health of mothers after losing seven to nine of her children to diseases.
In response to your question, I do think the day should be reserved to honoring all that a mother gives to their children, especially after learning more about all that the woman who inspired the holiday did for her community. However, I don't think it is possible for this commercially driven society to separate everyday life from advertisement. We see this same overlap in the media and tabloids, when people's individual lives are publicized for everyone to hear. That being said, I do also think that there is no harm in giving your mother flowers, cards, or candy, and that the true meaning of mother's day and showing appreciation for your mother is still alive.
More about Ann Jarvis: http://www.wvculture.org/history/jarvis.html
This is really intriguing! I would have to argue for the companies on this one. It's unfortunate that companies twist such a sacred holiday, but there are tons of sacred things in life that are exploited by various industries. Unfortunately, that exploitation is often what fuels our economy and opens new industry.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Christian holidays including Easter and Christmas have also turned into days for candy, gifts and various obligations. Does this signify a deterioration in overall U.S. morals from our Puritan roots? Or are these aberrations, from the traditional meanings of holidays, simply as a result of innovative ad campaigns that have steered these sacred holidays into new meanings and have boosted our economic infrastructure?
Ann Jarvis is very inspirational to have fought for what she believed in, but wisdom guides all great leaders to discern when a battle is worth fighting, The battle for the sanctity of Mother's Day attempted to persevere against the tide of consumerism and failed. Since our society is still primarily governed by consumer ideals, the fight for holiday sanctity is still at a disadvantage and will likely be for many years. However, I doubt that Christian pastors and religious leaders will give up their similar fight to maintain the integrity of holidays including Easter and Christmas. Therefore, I believe that Ann Jarvis' fighting spirit has become embodied in the Christian community for their religious holidays. Once or if they achieve headway in their movement, I believe that Mother's Day might have the chance to be restored to its original meaning.
This is really intriguing! I would have to argue for the companies on this one. It's unfortunate that companies twist such a sacred holiday, but there are tons of sacred things in life that are exploited by various industries. Unfortunately, that exploitation is often what fuels our economy and opens new industry.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Christian holidays including Easter and Christmas have also turned into days for candy, gifts and various obligations. Does this signify a deterioration in overall U.S. morals from our Puritan roots? Or are these aberrations, from the traditional meanings of holidays, simply as a result of innovative ad campaigns that have steered these sacred holidays into new meanings and have boosted our economic infrastructure?
Ann Jarvis is very inspirational to have fought for what she believed in, but wisdom guides all great leaders to discern when a battle is worth fighting, The battle for the sanctity of Mother's Day attempted to persevere against the tide of consumerism and failed. Since our society is still primarily governed by consumer ideals, the fight for holiday sanctity is still at a disadvantage and will likely be for many years. However, I doubt that Christian pastors and religious leaders will give up their similar fight to maintain the integrity of holidays including Easter and Christmas. Therefore, I believe that Ann Jarvis' fighting spirit has become embodied in the Christian community for their religious holidays. Once or if they achieve headway in their movement, I believe that Mother's Day might have the chance to be restored to its original meaning.
Hey Katherine!
ReplyDeleteI actually found a Buzzfeed article about this on Sunday, and I thought it was sad that Jarvis went down in history as the crazy lady who ended up hating her own holiday. I read further that her protectiveness came off as fanatic partially due to her ego--she often signed her letters as "Anna Jarvis, Founder of Mother's Day." It's disappointing that Mother's Day, like many other holidays, have become ways for corporations to make huge sums of money, but I think that it's important that at least people buy the cards and flowers because they want to honor the mother figures in their lives. Of course, many others do make their own cards and don't buy into the commercialization, so Mother's Day (and Father's Day) do hold a special meaning in the end.
The article I read: http://www.buzzfeed.com/joeloliphint/anna-jarvis-was-sorry-she-ever-invented-mothers-day#.ciVE1XWmX