Where it all Began
Ann Reeves Jarvis started the process in the 1850’s when she
held Mother’s Day work clubs” to improve conditions for women and children.
After the Civil War, the clubs organized events called Mother’s Friendship Day
picnics to unite mothers across America and encourage women to take a more
active role in politics. Ann’s daughter, Anna, was inspired after her mother’s
death to organize the first Mother’s day observance in 1908. Through Anna’s
efforts, a growing number of cities across the country began observing Mother’s
day after 1908. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared the
second Sunday in May to be recognized as Mother’s day.
Interesting Factoids
Mother’s day was
intentionally left in its’ singular form to signify that the holiday wasn’t a
day to celebrate all Mom’s just the most special one in each individual’s
life. Anna was adamant it stay in
singular form to keep each Mother’s day observance unique to the special mom in
one’s life. Anna recognized it as a day that you’d go home to spend quality
time with your Mother and thank her for everything she’s done for her children.
This weekend, it is
estimated that American’s will spend $19.9 billion on mom. According to
Hallmark, Mother’s day is their third largest holiday for sales behind
Christmas and Valentine’s. Behind Christmas, it is the second most popular
holiday to shop for gifts and is the year’s busiest day for the restaurant
business.
At Paladin we want to take the time to recognize all the moms
out there for everything they do day in and day out. Happy Mother’s Day!