If, like many, you think Mother’s Day was one of those Hallmark holidays created by a marketing department, you’ll be surprised to hear the true history of Mother’s Day and it’s ironic story. It’s also a story of how one person can make a huge impact.
The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of just one woman – Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.
Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as an intimate occasion—a son or daughter honoring the mother they knew and loved—and not a celebration of all mothers. For this reason, she always stressed the singular “Mother’s” rather than the plural. But things did not turn out as she had planned.
After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.
Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.
By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. But that’s not the end of this story!
Jarvis soon grew disillusioned, as Mother’s Day almost immediately became centered on the buying and giving of printed cards, flowers, candies and other gifts.
Seeking to regain control of the holiday she founded, Jarvis began openly campaigning against those who profited from Mother’s Day, including confectioners, florists and other retailers. She launched numerous lawsuits against groups using the name Mother’s Day, and eventually spent much of her sizable inheritance on legal fees.
In 1925, when an organization called the American War Mothers used Mother’s Day as an occasion for fundraising and selling carnations, Jarvis crashed their convention in Philadelphia and was arrested for disturbing the peace. Later, she even attacked First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for using Mother’s Day as an occasion to raise money for charity. By the 1940s, Jarvis had disowned the holiday altogether, and even actively lobbied the government to see it removed from the calendar. Obviously, that wasn’t successful either!
By then, Mother’s Day had taken on a life of its own as a commercial goldmine. Largely destitute, and unable to profit from the massively successful holiday she founded, Anna Jarvis died in 1948 in Philadelphia’s Marshall Square Sanitarium. The ultimate irony, Jarvis remained unmarried and childless her entire life.
Now you know. Since it’s here to stay, we hope you honor Mother’s Day in any way you see fit – ALL mothers whether they are adoptive mothers, foster moms, or stepmothers. It’s what they do for the children they love that we honor. If a mother in your life struggles to find time for herself, there aren’t many who will say they would NOT like a massage!
Hey Mom, could you do this?
Sources for this article: Click Here
EDUCATION UPDATE
Lisa Tarr LMT took a class recently on Treating Runners Injuries, which covered: Hamstrings, sciatica, knee pain, shin splints, Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, which are the most common runner complaints.
This kind of specialty training allows our therapists to provide therapy for very specific issues. One of the many things that set our therapist team apart from other establishments is they will not hesitate to refer a client to another therapist who they think can best provide a successful result.
If you are a runner, you now have a specialized resource with Lisa. In addition, for overall sport massage that addresses athletic performance and recovery, ask about scheduling a Sport Massage.
FEATURE OF THE MONTH – SILICONE CUPPING
This practice uses special flexible silicone cups on your skin to create suction. The cups are placed on the skin, creating a vacuum by suctioning out the air. The underlying tissue is sucked part way into the cup. You may feel a tight sensation in the area of the cup, however many people describe the feeling as relaxing and soothing, not painful.
There are various methods of using cupping in massage therapy, but at Massage Therapy Connections we use dynamic cupping. After applying lubricant to the skin, the cup is placed and then moved in a specific area, often in a specific direction to mimic lymphatic movement. Dynamic cupping treats all the same issues as traditional cupping and has been said to be even more beneficial for lasting myofascial release than its traditional counterpart.
This technique is painless, relaxing and leaves NO CIRCULAR MARKS on the skin. Yay!!!
Three of our therapists – Erica Fagan, Leah Johnson and Lisa Tarr – are certified in the use of silicone cupping massage techniques. There are some contraindications for using cupping techniques, therefore your therapist will discuss with you what would be appropriate for you.
Sunday, May 14th: Mother’s Day
Monday, May 29th: Memorial Day
Office CLOSED
We have two birthdays this month!
Happy Birthday to Apryl Perez and Duy Steinbock! If you see them, let them know how much they are appreciated!
Have You Voted Yet?
Voting is still going on for The People’s Choice Awards from the Bradenton Herald. Even if you voted before, did you know you can vote EVERY DAY until 5pm on Friday, May 5th?
It’s easy! Start with this link
Select the “Health and Beauty” category, then “Massage”. Scroll until you see Massage Therapy Connections and click the button. That’s it! Thanks so much for helping recognize our awesome massage therapists.
THERAPIST OF THE MONTH – MAIRIN KEALEY
As the newest addition to our MTC Therapist Team, we thought it was a good time to introduce Mairin.
Mairin graduated from the massage program at Manatee Technical College in 2021 and has been thriving ever since.
Mairin’s life has always focused on medicine and wellness as a career goal which is what led her into massage therapy. Her extensive knowledge of anatomy and the muscular system combined with her friendly style and communication skills, result in her clients feeling completely relaxed and truly able to experience relief from life’s aches and pains. She combines the best of Swedish and Deep Tissue to create comforting and therapeutic treatments that are unique and customized for a healing experience.
Mairin offers Swedish, Deep Tissue and Focus Massage sessions. She is scheduled on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
IN APPRECIATION
Anyone who has stepped foot in our office knows our staff LOVES their pets. So much so that we have created a “Personality Wall” that showcases our fur babies!
Pets of any kind can not only enrich your life but keep your mind and body active in caring for them. Growing up on a horse ranch in Minnesota, we had kitties, puppies and horses that kept us very busy. It taught me the responsibility of caring for something that once domesticated, cannot take care of themselves.
They offer unconditional love no matter what you have going on; they can be your one constant that will sit with you when you are happy, sad or just relaxing!
I am fortunate to have four Mini Schnauzers that keep me on my toes when I am at home, with all four having different unique personalities. Some people think of pets as just pets, and some consider them family! If you have a pet, please give them some extra time and love, for all the smiles and happiness that they provide us!
Here is a picture of my fur babies!
In Appreciation,
