It’s time to debunk one claim once and for all:
Mother’s Day is not just a commercial holiday.
This Sunday we will salute the important ladies who have given
us so much. To those moms, grandmas and maternal figures in our
lives, we give our thanks, sing their praises and remind them of
our love.
But somewhere along the line, a sense of cynicism began to
accompany the second Sunday in May. People were turned away by the
overflow of commercialism and expense that became synonymous with
Mother’s Day.
What has Mother’s Day come to mean? One only needs to look
at the origins of the holiday to see the truth behind its
purpose.
Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day in America was
not an invention by the good people at Hallmark.
Back in 1907, a woman named Ana Jarvis wanted to do something
special for her dearly departed mother. On the second anniversary
of her mother’s death, Jarvis convinced her church to hold a
service honoring all mothers. This inspirational celebration
quickly gathered support and soon a national campaign was under
way.
By 1908, Mother’s Day was observed in the city of
Philadelphia. By 1911, almost every state in the Union celebrated
Mother’s Day. And in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson
officially declared Mother’s Day a national holiday.
The day was not born out of a desire to sell chocolates and
cards. It was not the brainchild of florists and long-distance
telephone carriers. Mother’s Day was the result of a
woman’s love for her mom; it emerged out of a love and
appreciation for everything she had given her. We should remember
this as we prepare to honor those special women who have given us
so much.
There is no doubt the day has grown increasingly corporate.
Sadly, the business of the holiday often overshadows its message.
But if there is one greater shame than the commercialism associated
with Mother’s Day, it is the fact that we must be told what
day to esteem our mothers. In a sense, every day should be
Mother’s Day, just as every day should also be Father’s
Day, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday that
reminds us to celebrate those important to us. Mother’s Day
is not about gifts and receipts ““ it’s about love and
memories.
One Mother’s Day above all stands out in my mind. The day
began with me making scrambled eggs for my mom. Pieces of the shell
had accidentally fallen into the bowl. Next, I gave her a card
written all in crayon. Finally, I picked flowers from the yard and
hoped she would think they were store-bought. Yes, last
year’s Mother’s Day was fun, but I hope to make this
year’s better.
If even one person goes out of the way to do something special
for his or her mom, this is truly a worthy and necessary
holiday.
Mothers deserve to be rewarded for a job well done. After all,
it is no coincidence that if you flip over the word
“mom,” you get “wow.”
Pfohl is a fourth-year history and political science
student. E-mail him at jpfohl@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments
to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.