I’m not buying into the theory that Mother’s Day is a “Hallmark Holiday”, commercialized beyond recognition, so can be ignored in good conscious. “Mother’s Day,” according to Wikipedia, “…is an annual holiday that recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well the positive contributions that they make to society.”
In the United States, history presents us with over 140 years of hard-working, visionary and courageous women whose accomplishments put this holiday on the map.
Remember Julia Ward Howe from 6th Grade United States History Class? This woman, a poet, pacifist and suffragette, managed to find time to write the lyrics to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Ms. Howe also wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870”, encouraging mothers to rally together for peace.
This “Mother’s Day” concept was re-ignited in 1877, in a small-town way. One May Sunday, in a small church in Albion, Michigan, the Reverend Myron Daughterty was so distraught over the incarceration of his son in a saloon by an anti-temperance group, he couldn’t finish his sermon.
Juila Calhoun Blakely, according to albionmich.com/history, took the pulpit and completed the sermon for him. Her sons and church congregation were so proud of her, on the second Sunday of every year, the church honored her and all “mothers” by celebrating “Mother’s Day”. But it’s certainly not a national holiday. Not quite.
Ann Reeves Jarvis fostered the organization of a “Mother’s Work Day”, which,
according to wikipedia.com, “…emphasized the causes of pacifism and social activism,” after the Civil War.
According to womens history about.com, “Ms. Jarvis’ daughter, Anna Jarvis, lobbied prominent businessment and politicians to turn the day into a special day honoring mother’s. Anna’s hard work paid off when Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday.
These women are certainly super-women. It takes a healthy woman to positively impact society, so I’m proposing a nutritious, delicious Mother’s Day recipe composed of ingredients, many of them found on women.webmd.com. The site refers to them as “super foods”, and they are particularly nutrient-rich for women.
Like a woman, the dressing multi-tasks providing the marinade for the fish and the dressing for the salad. I’m perfectly fine if my family doesn’t spend money on cards, gifts and flowers for me, especially in these lean economic times. However, I’d really appreciate a hug, foot rub and– if you don’t feel like cooking–peel me a grape!
