Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in March or May. In the United States, it is typically celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
The modern American holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make Mother’s Day a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed that they were “the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world”.
The holiday was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1914 under President Woodrow Wilson. It has since been adopted by many other countries around the world, although the date and traditions can vary.
Pros of Mother’s Day:
- Honor and Appreciation: It provides an opportunity to honor and appreciate the hard work, sacrifice, and love that mothers provide to their children and families.
- Awareness: It brings attention to the role of mothers in our society and highlights the importance of motherhood.
- Family Time: It often results in families spending time together, creating memories and strengthening bonds.
- Economic Stimulus: It has a significant positive impact on the economy, particularly the flower, greeting card, restaurant, and retail industries, as people often purchase gifts for their mothers.
Cons of Mother’s Day:
- Commercialization: Like many holidays, Mother’s Day has been heavily commercialized. This can detract from the intended purpose of the day and place undue pressure on individuals to spend money.
- Exclusionary: It can be a difficult day for those who have lost their mothers, those who have strained or non-existent relationships with their mothers, and those who have struggled with motherhood or fertility issues.
- Unrealistic Expectations: The day can create pressure to portray a perfect family image and relationship which might not reflect the complexities and challenges of real-life motherhood and family dynamics.
- Gender Stereotypes: Some critics argue that Mother’s Day reinforces traditional gender roles and can contribute to the undervaluing of women’s contributions outside of motherhood.