The Gift Basket Pros

The History of Mothers Day

As we move past Easter into the warmer spring days, each year our thoughts turn to setting aside one special day to show gratitude and appreciation to our mothers.Elegant Mother's Day Gift BasketWe send lovely, heartfelt cards, bouquets of lavish flowers and gifts abundant with treats, so we can show her just how extraordinary she is. Although Mother's Day is celebrated in many different ways across the world, the history of this iconic day still represents its original meaning.

Dating back to the 1900's, the determined efforts of Anna Jarvis to honor her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, was successful with a little help. After her mother passed away, Anna wanted to create a day that showed acknowledgement and gratitude for all of the efforts and sacrifices that mother's everywhere took upon themselves for their children. With some help by a Philadelphia department store owner, John Wanamaker, in May 1908, she coordinated a celebration at a Methodist church in West Virginia that celebrated all mothers, and that day became the first official Mother's Day.

Due to her efforts to continue this new tradition, Anna resolved to add this day to the national calendar, which at the time were predisposed to celebrating the accomplishments of men. In 1914, President Wilson signed an order officially commencing that the second Sunday of May, would from then on be celebrated as Mother's Day.

Although originally starting out as a personal event for families to celebrate, the involvement of florists and greeting card companies soon jumped into the mix. After years of disgust at how the holiday had become so commercialized and companies were simply looking to make a profit, she began a life long campaign speaking out against those who looked to simply make money and bypass the true meaning of this special day. By the time she died in 1948, Anna had completely disavowed Mother's Day altogether and actually worked to have the holiday removed from the calendar.

In today's times, we still send our mother's beautiful and creative gifts, cards, flowers and Mother's Day Gift Baskets that show we care. It has become one of the most popular holidays in terms of spending. Many families will treat mom extra special, maybe by taking her out to lunch instead of expecting her to cook, or assisting in chores around the house while she relaxes in a nice long bath. What special treat will you shower upon your mother this Mother's Day?

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