• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

It’s time to debunk one claim once and for all: Mother’s Day is not just a commercial holiday.

This Sunday we will salute the important ladies who have given us so much. To those moms, grandmas and maternal figures in our lives, we give our thanks, sing their praises and remind them of our love.

But somewhere along the line, a sense of cynicism began to accompany the second Sunday in May. People were turned away by the overflow of commercialism and expense that became synonymous with Mother’s Day.

What has Mother’s Day come to mean? One only needs to look at the origins of the holiday to see the truth behind its purpose.

Contrary to popular belief, Mother’s Day in America was not an invention by the good people at Hallmark.

Back in 1907, a woman named Ana Jarvis wanted to do something special for her dearly departed mother. On the second anniversary of her mother’s death, Jarvis convinced her church to hold a service honoring all mothers. This inspirational celebration quickly gathered support and soon a national campaign was under way.

By 1908, Mother’s Day was observed in the city of Philadelphia. By 1911, almost every state in the Union celebrated Mother’s Day. And in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared Mother’s Day a national holiday.

The day was not born out of a desire to sell chocolates and cards. It was not the brainchild of florists and long-distance telephone carriers. Mother’s Day was the result of a woman’s love for her mom; it emerged out of a love and appreciation for everything she had given her. We should remember this as we prepare to honor those special women who have given us so much.

There is no doubt the day has grown increasingly corporate. Sadly, the business of the holiday often overshadows its message. But if there is one greater shame than the commercialism associated with Mother’s Day, it is the fact that we must be told what day to esteem our mothers. In a sense, every day should be Mother’s Day, just as every day should also be Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday that reminds us to celebrate those important to us. Mother’s Day is not about gifts and receipts – it’s about love and memories.

One Mother’s Day above all stands out in my mind. The day began with me making scrambled eggs for my mom. Pieces of the shell had accidentally fallen into the bowl. Next, I gave her a card written all in crayon. Finally, I picked flowers from the yard and hoped she would think they were store-bought. Yes, last year’s Mother’s Day was fun, but I hope to make this year’s better.

If even one person goes out of the way to do something special for his or her mom, this is truly a worthy and necessary holiday.

Mothers deserve to be rewarded for a job well done. After all, it is no coincidence that if you flip over the word “mom,” you get “wow.”

Pfohl is a fourth-year history and political science student. E-mail him at jpfohl@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.