Mother's Day 2011 with some Mother's Day History
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Mother's Day is celebrated throughout the world, with the secular version from the US having a strong influence on many other countries.
Starting in 1872, Julia Ward Howe, (famous for writing the words of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic) promoted the celebration of a "Mother's Day for Peace" in many US cities. Boston actually celebrated the June 2 holiday for 10 years, but its observance waned. Ms Howe was honored with a US postage stamp in 1988, although it fails to mention her efforts to create Mother's Day.
The United States version of Mother's Day resulted from the efforts of Anna Jarvis, who created the holiday in 1908. With the help of John Wannamaker to popularize it, in 1914 Woodrow Wilson officially declared the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Jarvis, though, disowned her holiday after it became, in her words, a "Hallmark Holiday" due to its commercialization by retailers (we are going for irony here, but may be closer to hypocrisy...) Ms Jarvis was actually arrested in 1948 for disturbing the peace while protesting the commercialization of the holiday she created.
We agree that Mother’ Day may be over-commercialized, and suggest treating your mother to breakfast in bed, with some J. Martinez coffee, of course, and a hand-written card (which will be cherished much longer than a printed one). If you cannot be there to prepare her breakfast, you might consider sending her some coffee. We would be glad to hand-write the card, for which you supply the sentiment. If you are at a loss for a gift, you can try our wonderful gift selections or the delicately hand crafted Mustard & Moonshine waterlily mugs.
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