According to Wikipedia the First Mother's Day was established as a 'Mother's Day for Peace' by Anna Jarvis from Virginia in honor of her mother, Ann, who had been a pacifist during the Civil War.
According to the Anna Jarvis Museum in Webster the daughter had received her inspiration after a Sunday service when her mother shut the New Testament and said, "I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it."
After her mother's demise in 1905 Anna Jarvis had petitioned the government to grant a holiday to all mothers and President Woodrow Wilson had signed the law enacting Mother's Day in 1914 just before the advent of the Great War.
Anna Jarvis had been appalled by the instant commercialization of the holiday.
"A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment."
Jarvis had fought to honor her mother by protesting at 1925 Confectioners Convention in Philadelphia, where the police arrested her for disturbing the peace.
Anna Jarvis gave her all to protect her mother's ideals.
She was rewarded with ridicule, destitution,and incarceration for the final four years of her life at the Marshall Square Sanitarium in Chester PA.
Her medical bills were shared by the cardmakers and candy purveyors of America, who now earn $22 billion from the holiday
Personally I believe Jarvis' version of undying love for one's mother.
Love to all mothers.
Love is all.
Mothers.
And daughters too.
Like Anna Jarvis.
Beloved of Ann Reeves Jarvis.
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