#MothersDay #AnnaJarvis #History #Facts
Did you know that Anna Jarvis, the woman who is credited with creating Mother’s Day, actually tried to abolish the holiday? In 1943, Jarvis started a petition to abolish Mother’s Day, but her efforts were thwarted when she was placed in a sanitarium. Here’s the fascinating story behind this little-known fact.
##Who was Anna Jarvis?
Anna Jarvis was the driving force behind the establishment of Mother’s Day as a national holiday in the United States. She was inspired to create the holiday as a way to honor her own mother, who had passed away. Jarvis held the first official Mother’s Day celebration in 1908, and by 1914, the holiday had been officially recognized by Congress.
##The Petition to Abolish Mother’s Day
In the 1940s, Jarvis became disillusioned with the commercialization of Mother’s Day. She felt that the holiday had strayed too far from its original purpose of honoring mothers and had instead become a way for businesses to profit off of sentimentality. As a result, Jarvis started a petition to abolish Mother’s Day altogether.
##Jarvis’ Placement in the Sanitarium
Unfortunately for Jarvis, her efforts to abolish Mother’s Day were met with resistance. People who were financially invested in the floral and greeting card industries saw Mother’s Day as a major opportunity to boost sales, and they were not about to let Jarvis put an end to it. To stop her from pursuing her petition further, Jarvis was forcibly placed in the Marshall Square Sanitarium in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
##The Role of the Floral and Greeting Card Industries
It may come as a surprise to learn that the floral and greeting card industries played a significant role in keeping Jarvis in the sanitarium. These industries stood to lose a substantial amount of money if Mother’s Day were to be abolished, as it was one of the biggest sales days of the year for flowers and cards. In order to protect their financial interests, these industries paid the bills to keep Jarvis in the sanitarium.
##The Legacy of Anna Jarvis
Despite her efforts to abolish Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis’ legacy lives on. Her original intention of honoring mothers and promoting maternal bonds is still at the heart of the holiday, even if the commercial aspects have taken over. Jarvis’ story serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring our loved ones and valuing the true meaning behind holidays.
In conclusion, the story of Anna Jarvis and her petition to abolish Mother’s Day is a fascinating insight into the commercialization of holidays and the power of industries to influence our traditions. While Jarvis may not have been successful in her efforts to end Mother’s Day, her legacy as the founder of the holiday is immortalized. So this Mother’s Day, take a moment to reflect on the true meaning behind the holiday and honor the mothers in your life in a meaningful way. πΈπ
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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Jarvis#Commercialization,_conflict,_and_later_life