The Story Of Mother's Day Direct
: Anna spent years lobbying politicians and businessmen. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. The Irony of Success: A Battle Against Commercialism
Watch this detailed episode for an in-depth look at the life of Anna Jarvis and the evolution of the holiday: The Story of Mother's Day
: After the Civil War, she organized a "Mothers' Friendship Day" in 1868 to bring together mothers of former Union and Confederate soldiers, promoting reconciliation and peace through the shared bond of motherhood. The Founder’s Vision: Anna Jarvis : Anna spent years lobbying politicians and businessmen
: She spent the rest of her life and her entire inheritance fighting to have the holiday rescinded. Ironically, she died penniless in a sanitarium in 1948, with her care reportedly paid for by members of the floral and greeting card industries. The Founder’s Vision: Anna Jarvis : She spent
: In the 1850s, Ann organized clubs to teach women how to properly care for their children and improve sanitation to combat high infant mortality rates.
: Anna became a vocal critic of the floral, greeting card, and candy industries, which she felt had hijacked her "holy day" for profit.
: On May 10, 1908, Anna held the first official Mother's Day service at St. Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. She sent 500 white carnations—her mother's favorite flower—to the church for the occasion.
