Mother's Day (United States)

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Mother's Day (United States) is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States to honor and appreciate mothers, motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is observed on the second Sunday in May. The holiday is marked by individuals expressing their gratitude towards their mothers and mother figures through various means such as gifts, cards, flowers, and breakfasts in bed. Mother's Day has become one of the most commercially significant holidays, especially for restaurants and businesses in the floral, greeting card, and gift industries.

History

The modern American version of Mother's Day has its origins in the early 20th century. It was first celebrated in 1908 when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Jarvis's mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world."

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. Although Jarvis was successful in founding Mother's Day, she became resentful of the commercialization of the holiday. By the early 1920s, Hallmark Cards and other companies had started selling Mother's Day cards. Jarvis believed that the companies had misinterpreted and exploited the idea of Mother's Day, and that the emphasis of the holiday was on sentiment, not profit. As a result, she organized boycotts of Mother's Day, and threatened to issue lawsuits against the companies involved.

Celebration

Mother's Day is celebrated in various ways throughout the United States. Many people give gifts, cards, flowers, candy, a meal in a restaurant, or other treats to their mother and mother figures, including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers. Some families also celebrate by giving mothers a day off from activities like cooking or other household chores.

Traditionally, the chrysanthemum is a flower associated with Mother's Day in the United States. People also wear a carnation as a badge on Mother's Day. A colored carnation signifies that a person's mother is living while a white carnation is used to honor a deceased mother. Besides physical gifts, many children also spend time with their mothers on Mother's Day, which can be considered a valuable gift of love and appreciation.

Controversy and Criticism

Despite its widespread acceptance and celebration, Mother's Day has been the subject of criticism and controversy. Some critics argue that the holiday has become too commercialized, losing the original intent of honoring the personal contributions of mothers in a more heartfelt and meaningful way. Others point out that the holiday can be painful for those who have lost their mothers, have strained mother relationships, or are unable to become mothers.

See Also

• Father's Day (United States)
• Parent's Day
• International Women's Day
• Anna Jarvis