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:there came to her a realization of the growing lack of tender consideration for absent mothers among worldly-minded, busy, grown-up children; of the thoughtless neglect of home ties and loving consideration, engendered by the whirl and pressure of modern life; of the lack of respect and deference to parents among children of the present generation; and of the need for a reminder of the loving, unselfish mother, living or dead.<ref name=rice>Rice, Susan Tracey and Robert Haven Schauffler (1915), ''Mother's Day: Its History, Origin, Celebration, Spirit, and Significance as Related in Prose and Verse.'' New York: Moffat, Yard and Company. Anna Jarvis and Philadelphia, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pkAOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA6 p. 6]; Mother's Day bill in Congress, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pkAOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA4 pp. 4-5]</ref>

:there came to her a realization of the growing lack of tender consideration for absent mothers among worldly-minded, busy, grown-up children; of the thoughtless neglect of home ties and loving consideration, engendered by the whirl and pressure of modern life; of the lack of respect and deference to parents among children of the present generation; and of the need for a reminder of the loving, unselfish mother, living or dead.<ref name=rice>Rice, Susan Tracey and Robert Haven Schauffler (1915), ''Mother's Day: Its History, Origin, Celebration, Spirit, and Significance as Related in Prose and Verse.'' New York: Moffat, Yard and Company. Anna Jarvis and Philadelphia, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pkAOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA6 p. 6]; Mother's Day bill in Congress, [http://books.google.com/books?id=pkAOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA4 pp. 4-5]</ref>

Jarvis sought to make it a national celebration. It was not smooth going at first; in 1908 the Senate poked fun at a resolution to institute Mothers' Day.<ref>The position of the apostrophe varies; older sources tend to put it after the ''s,'' modern usage puts it before the ''s.''</ref> One senator feared it would lead to special days in honor of "sisters and the cousins and the aunts,"<ref>Doubtless a reference to a song in H. M. S. Pinafore, in which the head of the Navy goes everywhere accompanied by "his sisters and his cousins and his aunts." The senator's objection is a good example of a [[slippery slope]] argument.</ref>, another moved to substitute the Fifth Commandment, and another said that if it passed the Senate should also recognize a Grandmothers' Day.<ref>Against a Mothers'[sic] Day. Senate Pokes Fun at Senator Burkett's Resolution Calling For One. ''The New York Times,'' May 10, 1908, p. 7</ref> Nevertheless, the tradition spread to other cities, and by 1910 it had been adopted by most states.<ref>"Mothers'[sic] Day" ''The Boston Daily Globe,'' May 11, 1911, p. 12: "On Sunday next Mothers' day will be celebrated for the second time in the United States.... [The suggestion of] Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia that a day be set aside for throughout the country to honor mothers was quickly adopted in most states."</ref> In 1913 the House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for federal officials to wear white carnations on Mother's Day.

Jarvis sought to make it a national celebration. It was not smooth going at first; in 1908 the Senate poked fun at a resolution to institute Mothers' Day.<ref>The position of the apostrophe varies; older sources tend to put it after the ''s,'' modern usage puts it before the ''s.''</ref> One senator feared it would lead to special days in honor of "sisters and the cousins and the aunts,",<ref>Doubtless a reference to a song in H. M. S. Pinafore, in which the head of the Navy goes everywhere accompanied by "his sisters and his cousins and his aunts." The senator's objection is a good example of a [[slippery slope]] argument.</ref> another moved to substitute the Fifth Commandment, and another said that if it passed the Senate should also recognize a Grandmothers' Day.<ref>Against a Mothers'[sic] Day. Senate Pokes Fun at Senator Burkett's Resolution Calling For One. ''The New York Times,'' May 10, 1908, p. 7</ref> Nevertheless, the tradition spread to other cities, and by 1910 it had been adopted by most states.<ref>"Mothers'[sic] Day" ''The Boston Daily Globe,'' May 11, 1911, p. 12: "On Sunday next Mothers' day will be celebrated for the second time in the United States.... [The suggestion of] Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia that a day be set aside for throughout the country to honor mothers was quickly adopted in most states."</ref> In 1913 the House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for federal officials to wear white carnations on Mother's Day.

In 1914, a bill instituting Mother's Day was passed, and on May 8th, 1914, [[Woodrow WIlson]] signed House Joint Resolution 263, "A joint resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, and for other purposes." WIlson issued a proclamation "calling upon the Government officials to display the United States flag on all Government buildings, and the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May, as a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country."<ref name=rice/>

In 1914, a bill instituting Mother's Day was passed, and on May 8, 1914, [[Woodrow WIlson]] signed House Joint Resolution 263, "A joint resolution designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, and for other purposes." WIlson issued a proclamation "calling upon the Government officials to display the United States flag on all Government buildings, and the people of the United States to display the flag at their homes or other suitable places on the second Sunday in May, as a public expression of love and reverence for the mothers of our country."<ref name=rice/>

Originally, the celebration was observed mostly at churches, but it soon expanded to public gatherings, somewhat on the pattern of Independence Day or Memorial Day<ref>Then called "Decorations Day"</ref>. Boston's 1923 celebration of Mother's Day honored the sacrifices of the Gold Star mothers who had lost sons in World War I. It included a parade and speeches on the Common. "M. Schalk" of the Rotary Club led the assembled crowd in singing "Mother Machree," "The Long Long Trail," and "Home Sweet Home." The chaplain of the American Legion led a prayer, followed by speeches by the Lieutenant Governor, Mayor James M. Curley, and screen actress Mary Carr, famous for her film portrayal of mothers.<ref>"Tributes to 'Mother' Paid On Common After Parade in Downtown Boston," ''The Boston Daily Globe,'' May 14, 1923, p. 18</ref>.

Originally, the celebration was observed mostly at churches, but it soon expanded to public gatherings, somewhat on the pattern of Independence Day or Memorial Day.<ref>Then called "Decorations Day"</ref> Boston's 1923 celebration of Mother's Day honored the sacrifices of the Gold Star mothers who had lost sons in World War I. It included a parade and speeches on the Common. "M. Schalk" of the Rotary Club led the assembled crowd in singing "Mother Machree," "The Long Long Trail," and "Home Sweet Home." The chaplain of the American Legion led a prayer, followed by speeches by the Lieutenant Governor, Mayor James M. Curley, and screen actress Mary Carr, famous for her film portrayal of mothers.<ref>"Tributes to 'Mother' Paid On Common After Parade in Downtown Boston," ''The Boston Daily Globe,'' May 14, 1923, p. 18</ref>

Founder Anna Jarvis continued to guide the celebration in her role as President of the Mothers' Day International Association, declaring in 1920, for example, that on that year white carnations would be dispensed with due to the high cost of the flowers. But the celebration gradually evolved into its present form: primarily an occasion for gifts, greeting cards, and telephone calls. Jarvis herself eventually became bitter at the extent to which the celebration had become commercialized.<ref name=stuff>[http://people.howstuffworks.com/question634.htm Who came up with Mother's Day and why?] HowStuffWorks website: "Jarvis became bitter over the commercialization of the holiday. She filed a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother's Day event and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a mother's convention where white carnations were being sold."</ref> The New York Times says that she "denounced confectioners, florists, and other groups whom she accused of gouging the public" and was angered because "too many sons bought printed cards to send to their mothers, instead of writing."<ref>"Anna Jarvis Dead; Honored Mothers; Founder in 1907 of Their Day Fought Commercialization&mdash;Penniless at Her Death." ''The New York Times, November 25, 1948, p. 31</ref>

Founder Anna Jarvis continued to guide the celebration in her role as President of the Mothers' Day International Association, declaring in 1920, for example, that on that year white carnations would be dispensed with due to the high cost of the flowers. But the celebration gradually evolved into its present form: primarily an occasion for gifts, greeting cards, and telephone calls. Jarvis herself eventually became bitter at the extent to which the celebration had become commercialized.<ref name=stuff>[http://people.howstuffworks.com/question634.htm Who came up with Mother's Day and why?] HowStuffWorks website: "Jarvis became bitter over the commercialization of the holiday. She filed a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother's Day event and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a mother's convention where white carnations were being sold."</ref> The New York Times says that she "denounced confectioners, florists, and other groups whom she accused of gouging the public" and was angered because "too many sons bought printed cards to send to their mothers, instead of writing."<ref>"Anna Jarvis Dead; Honored Mothers; Founder in 1907 of Their Day Fought Commercialization&mdash;Penniless at Her Death." ''The New York Times, November 25, 1948, p. 31</ref>

===Julia Ward Howe's June 2nd "Mother's Day"===

===Julia Ward Howe's June 2nd "Mother's Day"===

[[Julia Ward Howe]], author of [[Battle Hymn of the Republic]], had earlier attempted to found a "Mother's Day" to be celebrated on June 2nd. It was not a celebration of motherhood, but a call for mothers to oppose war. Her 1870 ''Appeal to Womanhood Through the World'' said, in part:

[[Julia Ward Howe]], author of [[Battle Hymn of the Republic]], had earlier attempted to found a "Mother's Day" to be celebrated on June 2. It was not a celebration of motherhood, but a call for mothers to oppose war. Her 1870 ''Appeal to Womanhood Through the World'' said, in part:

:Arise, all women who have hearts! Whether your baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly: "We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience...." From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!.<ref>Elliott, Maud (Howe) and Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (1915), ''Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910'',  Houghton Mifflin, Boston, [http://books.google.com/books?id=LHqjEYLKPfYC&pg=RA11-PA302 p. 302]</ref>

:Arise, all women who have hearts! Whether your baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly: "We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience...." From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!.<ref>Elliott, Maud (Howe) and Laura Elizabeth Howe Richards (1915), ''Julia Ward Howe, 1819-1910'',  Houghton Mifflin, Boston, [http://books.google.com/books?id=LHqjEYLKPfYC&pg=RA11-PA302 p. 302]</ref>

Howe's Mother's Day was celebrated in eighteen cities in 1873, and in Boston for at least ten years; but it was dependent on Howe's personal financial sponsorship and eventually died out.<ref>[http://womenshistory.about.com/od/mothersday/a/jwh.htm Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day for Piece], about.com</ref>  

Howe's Mother's Day was celebrated in eighteen cities in 1873, and in Boston for at least ten years; but it was dependent on Howe's personal financial sponsorship and eventually died out.<ref>[http://womenshistory.about.com/od/mothersday/a/jwh.htm Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day for Piece], about.com</ref>  

But Jarvis herself supported women's suffrage, and some of her own statements had at least a tinge of feminism:

But Jarvis herself supported women's suffrage, and some of her own statements had at least a tinge of feminism:

:Washington's Birthday is for the "Father of our Country;" Memorial Day for our "Heroic Fathers;" 4th of July for "Patriot Fathers;" Labor Day for "Laboring Fathers;" Thanksgiving day for "Pilgrim Father[s];" and even New Years Day is for "Old Father Time."<ref name=quotes/>

:Washington's Birthday is for the "Father of our Country;" Memorial Day for our "Heroic Fathers;" 4th of July for "Patriot Fathers;" Labor Day for "Laboring Fathers;" Thanksgiving day for "Pilgrim Father[s];" and even New Years Day is for "Old Father Time."<ref name=quotes/>

In recent years, there have been rare incidents of schools deciding to discontinue Mother's Day observances on the grounds that it is an uncomfortable occasion for children living without a mother. In 2001, the Rodeph Shalom Day School in New York announced that Mother's Day and Father's Day would not be celebrated, in part because "...families in our society are now diverse and varied.... the recognition of these holidays in a social setting may not be a positive experience for all children."<ref>Goldberg, Jonah (2001), [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTkwZjdiZGI0YTBhYzVlMDY2M2IxNGM2MGQwNGIxNmI= My School Bans Mother’s Day]. National Review Online, May 8, 2001.</ref>. A mother at the school, who supported the policy, said that (contrary to a newspaper report), it did not seem likely that the impetus for the policy had come from gay parents.<ref>"Bulletin Board, School Skips Mother's Day," ''The New York Times,'' May 9, 2001, p. B9</ref> In 2007, a primary school in Wales banned the making of Mother's Day cards in class on the grounds of sensitivity. A spokesperson for the Mothers’ Union responded that they thought the school should, instead, encourage each child "to make a card which thanks the person in their lives who does that mothering. That could be a dad, auntie, carer, foster mum or grandparent."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=434754&in_page_id=1770 School bans Mother's Day cards]. "The move has angered parents at the 357-pupil Johnstown Primary School in Carmarthen, West Wales."</ref>

In recent years, there have been rare incidents of schools deciding to discontinue Mother's Day observances on the grounds that it is an uncomfortable occasion for children living without a mother. In 2001, the Rodeph Shalom Day School in New York announced that Mother's Day and Father's Day would not be celebrated, in part because "...families in our society are now diverse and varied.... the recognition of these holidays in a social setting may not be a positive experience for all children.".<ref>Goldberg, Jonah (2001), [http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTkwZjdiZGI0YTBhYzVlMDY2M2IxNGM2MGQwNGIxNmI= My School Bans Mother’s Day]. National Review Online, May 8, 2001.</ref> A mother at the school, who supported the policy, said that (contrary to a newspaper report), it did not seem likely that the impetus for the policy had come from gay parents.<ref>"Bulletin Board, School Skips Mother's Day," ''The New York Times,'' May 9, 2001, p. B9</ref> In 2007, a primary school in Wales banned the making of Mother's Day cards in class on the grounds of sensitivity. A spokesperson for the Mothers’ Union responded that they thought the school should, instead, encourage each child "to make a card which thanks the person in their lives who does that mothering. That could be a dad, auntie, carer, foster mum or grandparent."<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=434754&in_page_id=1770 School bans Mother's Day cards]. "The move has angered parents at the 357-pupil Johnstown Primary School in Carmarthen, West Wales."</ref>

==Notes and references==

==Notes and references==

{{Ten Commandments}}

{{Ten Commandments}}

[[category:holidays]]

[[Category:Holidays]]