 |
Anna JarvisFounder of Mother's Day in the USA
Date of Birth: 01.05.1864
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Anna Jarvis
- Advocacy for Mother's Day
- Opposition to Commercialization
- An Unmarried and Childless Advocate
- Legacy and Passing
Biography of Anna Jarvis
Founder of Mother's Day in the United StatesAnna Marie Jarvis was born in 1864 in Webster, West Virginia. She grew up in Grafton, West Virginia, where her family later moved. Anna attended Augusta Female Seminary, now known as Mary Baldwin College. Her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, passed away in 1905. A couple of years later, Anna came up with the idea of including Mother's Day as a national holiday, in honor of her own mother. However, it took another seven years before Mother's Day was officially recognized and celebrated in the United States.
Advocacy for Mother's Day
Anna Jarvis was passionate about her idea and was not afraid to face numerous bureaucratic barriers and convince influential individuals to support her cause. She personally traveled to different states, persuading governors one by one to vote for Mother's Day. In 1914, her efforts paid off when President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in the United States. However, there was a stipulation that the day would honor mothers in their domestic and family roles, rather than their social or political contributions. This was exactly what Anna Jarvis wanted.
Opposition to Commercialization
Despite her success in establishing Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis would likely be dissatisfied with how the holiday has evolved. She envisioned a day of heartfelt celebrations, with homemade gifts and handwritten letters. Jarvis actively fought against the commercialization of Mother's Day, opposing mass-produced cards and ready-made gifts, as she believed they detracted from the warmth of the occasion. Nevertheless, time has dictated its own rules, and modern Mother's Day has become a part of the industry that Anna Jarvis could not prevent.
An Unmarried and Childless Advocate
Ironically, Anna Jarvis never married and did not have children of her own. Rumor had it that she dedicated all her time and energy to her fight for Mother's Day, leaving no room for personal relationships. After turning 40, Jarvis left her job and founded the Mother's Day International Association, devoting herself entirely to the cause. She staunchly believed that Mother's Day should never be reduced to a money-making mechanism.
Legacy and Passing
Anna Jarvis passed away in 1948 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Despite her achievements as a formidable advocate, she struggled with financial difficulties towards the end of her life. After her death, there was considerable confusion regarding her affairs, as she was a strong fighter but not an efficient administrator. Nevertheless, it was Anna Jarvis who conceived and realized the idea of Mother's Day in the United States, driven by her love and in memory of her own mother. She was laid to rest at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
