Though mother’s day is about celebration, merrymaking, exchange of gifts, pampering our beloved mothers, not many of us are aware of the revolutionary roots of the day. Three iconic women Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis were the pioneers of the special day which began as a social movement of women in the mid 1800s in pursuit of a better life for Americans. Mothers came forward to fight for issues like better health, love and welfare of the Americans.
Often known as mother Jarvees, Ann Reeves Jarvis was the real founding mother of Mother’s day. She was also a teacher and activist. She began organizing mother work groups where she worked with other mothers to improve the living conditions, sanitation of mothers and children. Back in those days, the children of Appalachia succumbed to diseases that could be prevented. Keeping this in mind, the mother’s day work clubs organized by her in 1858 trained young mothers to keep their children safe. During the Civil War, she organized women brigades that encouraged the ladies to render services and help regardless of the side their partners had chosen. This was a huge thing back in those times as women could break free from the shackles of social norms and could stand up for a cause they strongly believed in. After the war, she proposed a mother’s friendship day as an effort to promote peace and harmony between Union and Confederate.
Author of ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’, Julie Ward Howe was a poet and reformer who volunteered for the US Sanitary Commission and worked for hygienic conditions in hospitals. She came up with the concept of ‘Mother’s Day for Peace’ to celebrate peace and promote after the scars of Europe’s Franco Prusian War. She believed that women had the inherent capacity to make the world a peaceful abode with compassion, affection and kindness. She asked women to assemble in churches, parlours and social halls to sing hymns and listen to sermons to promote peace and prevent cruelty of war.
Some groups grabbed this opportunity to raise funds for charitable causes. But Anne Jarvis strongly opposed this idea. She believed that the fundraisers would use this occasion to make money instead of helping the people in need. Anne Jarvis wanted this day to honour all mothers. But the whole idea of sending cards and gifts and commercialization of the day made her feel disillusioned. She fought against the commercialization of this day and also fought custody battles over mother’s day. Anne considered her mother to be the torchbearer of mother’s day and considered the day to be her legal property. She issued a warning which said, "Any charity, institution, hospital, organization, or business using Mother’s Day names, work, emblem, or celebration for getting money, making sales or on printed forms should be held as imposters by proper authorities, and reported to this association.
The illustrious past of mother’s day advocated for peace and spoke about eradication of violence. Today, mother’s day is about celebrating the essence of motherhood and the various roles of mothers in our lives. Mothers can be honoured in various ways. Today, gifting is an important aspect of Mother’s Day in India celebrations. The value of the gifts you choose to gift to your mother hardly counts. It is the heartfelt emotion and love behind the gifts that certainly leave an indelible mark in the hearts of the mothers. Even if you are far away from your mom on mother’s day, you can still touch her heart by sending special gifts. Explore the fascinating collection of mother’s day gifts on the website, send gifts to Mumbai and make wonderful memories.
