We have her to thank. She’s Julia Ward Howe — and in 1872 she was all up in Boston’s face trying to promote peace, so she called for A Meeting of Mothers. Of course Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic and here’s what we know about Julia Ward Howe: she was not a subtle broad:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.
Next we jump to Michigan. On May 11, 1877 three teenage boys were roaming the streets of a town called Albion and they were totally wasted. Because — get real — it’s Albion and it’s 1877. What else is a brother gonna do in Albion in 1877?
But this made the town madder than a wet hen, because all three of the boys were sons of strict temperance advocates. Also? One of the boys was the pastor’s son.
The very next Sunday the pastor was so upset about his son he left the pulpit before the services were over. This is where we meet a certain Juliet Calhoun Blakeley:
Juliet Calhoun Blakeley was sitting in the front row that day and she gladly pointed her sassy Victorian lace-up boots in the direction of the pulpit and took over the sermon, calling on other mothers to join her.
In other words this whole Mother’s Day deal was originally an anti-drinking campaign.
Then for years after, Mrs. Blakeley’s super perfect wouldn’t be caught dead drinking in the streets of Albion sons decided to honor their mother — and all mothers — with a churchy celebration held the second Sunday in May. In Albion. Albion Michigan, which only had like sixty-five residents, three of them drunkards.
So how did Mother’s Day grow from that to this?
As always we get to blame Philadelphia. Because this is one of its turn-of-the-century residents, Anna Jarvis:
Anna Jarvis launched an intense campaign in 1908 to honor the memory of her own mother by creating a national day dedicated to all mothers. She called on local clergymen, business leaders, and department store owner John Wanamaker – who offered the use of his store for the first Mother’s Day service, attended by 15,000 people.
The final element of the equation stepped off a train in Kansas City two years later holding two shoeboxes containing postcards.
And that chucklehead was J.C. Hall, the 18-year old founder of Hallmark.
blackbeardswyfe says
May 10, 2009 at 9:58 amHappy Mother’s Day Bossy!!
Thanks for the lessons of the day. My crowd thinks that mothers day is like “mom’s vacation day”. In theory I don’t have to do anything and they wait on me hand and foot….. but again… only in theory….(in their minds, I can always get to it tomorrow)
Bossy's friend Amy says
May 10, 2009 at 10:13 amHappy Mothers Day Bossy!
Mimi says
May 10, 2009 at 10:27 amPerfect! Happy Mom’s Day, Bossy!!
kidsmom says
May 10, 2009 at 10:29 amHEY! We live in KC and that CHUCKLEHEAD is the reason we have food on the table.
Buy Hallmark Cards.
Thank you very much.
(Two kids to put through college.)
Joan says
May 10, 2009 at 11:25 amHappy Mother’s Day, Bossy, and thanks for my daily laugh.
Debby says
May 10, 2009 at 11:42 amClassic! This was my homemade year, cards, flowers, breakfast in bed. Take that Mr. Halllmark where Hallmark = $5.00 for a mass produced card.
Happy Mother’s Day Bossy!
junebug says
May 10, 2009 at 11:48 amHappy Mother’s Day! Mr. Wanamaker was a very wealthy man. “In 1889 Wanamaker began the First Penny Savings Bank in order to encourage thrift. That same year he was appointed United States Postmaster General by President Benjamin Harrison. Wanamaker was credited by his friends with introducing the first commemorative stamp, and many efficiencies to the Postal Service. He was the first to make plans for free rural postal service in the United States, although the plan was not implemented until 1897.” (wikipedia) Around here (Oklahoma) we associate the Wanamaker with Gun Show.
Melissa says
May 10, 2009 at 1:06 pmHappy Mother’s Day!
My son is taking me to the movies to see Star Trek!
Angie F says
May 10, 2009 at 2:00 pmI love it! Thanks! Happy Mother’s Day Bossy!
Caroline says
May 10, 2009 at 2:06 pmIn honor of Juliet and Julia, and righteously indignant mothers everywhere, I think I shall indulge in some wrathful grapes that were wrathfully trampled into some fine wine. Happy Mother’s Day to us all!
sevedra says
May 10, 2009 at 3:28 pmHappy Mother’s Day!
Nora says
May 10, 2009 at 3:36 pmI was just sitting here feeling sorry for myself, now I know that maybe I should just go get drunk. I always learn something over here.
David says
May 10, 2009 at 5:08 pmI’m getting the sense that your not necessarily one of the biggest boosters of Mother’s Day as a national holiday.
Hunter says
May 10, 2009 at 6:08 pmNow I know why I thought that perhaps I should call my mother later today, which came to me as I was sitting outside in the gorgeous sunshine drinking a nice glass of wine at one of my favorite local gourmet pubs.
It all makes sense now.
carma says
May 10, 2009 at 9:47 pmso THATS who’s responsible for all this mass-produced insanity!
Hope you had a delightful Mother’s Day!
Beth says
May 10, 2009 at 11:15 pmThree loads of laundry, two sinkfuls of dishes, three bounced check notices, and one temper-tantrum later, I am pouring myself a stiff drink and toasting the pastor’s drunken son.
vuboq says
May 10, 2009 at 11:16 pmPreacher’s kids are the absolute worst!
(but we still *heart* our mothers)
*smooches*
Donalyn says
May 10, 2009 at 11:18 pmThanks for the history lesson – & Happy Mother’s Day!
MommyTime says
May 10, 2009 at 11:20 pmDo you suppose there’s something in the name Julia/Juliet/Julie that creates wizened apple-face-doll women? Those photos are priceless.
Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you had a lovely one.
MariaV says
May 11, 2009 at 5:33 amThanks. That was interesting. I hope you Happy Mother’s Day, Bossy.
Bush Babe says
May 11, 2009 at 6:10 amOh bossy, only YOU could mix up history and maths and make us all laugh and nod in agreeance!
Well done, my dear…
BB
Kristine says
May 11, 2009 at 9:35 amThat’s interesting, considering the first plans we make for Mother’s Day are about what kind of beer we need to buy.
Say What? says
May 11, 2009 at 10:39 amYay! A history lesson and a math lesson that I can understand!
So, when does “Barbie Theater” put on the “History of Mother’s Day?” I want to see headless Ken as the drunken preacher’s son!
Say What? says
May 11, 2009 at 10:40 amOh, I forgot! Happy Mother’s Day to Bossy and Bossy’s Mother!
foolery says
May 11, 2009 at 2:01 pmGlad to see that the portrait artist was kind to Juliet Calhoun Blakeley with regard to her righteous eyebrows. Hope you day was tranquil. Or exciting. Whatever you wanted.