Julia

Mother's Day: Origins and Ideas

Mother's Day is a cherished occasion dedicated to celebrating amazing moms each year. Discover its history and get inspired with ideas for the perfect celebration!

The origin of Mother’s Day has been associated with Miss Anna M. Jarvis. Jarvis (b. May 1, 1864 – Nov. 24, 1948), an especially devoted daughter who was concerned about the neglect shown to mothers by grown children. After her own mother’s death in 1905, Jarvis grieved. The following year, she asked friends to come to her church in Grafton, West Virginia, on the first Sunday in May to commemorate the anniversary of her mother’s death. In 1907, Jarvis promoted a Mother’s Day service at the church, and she donated carnations (her mother’s favorite flower) to every mother in the congregation — though May 10, 1908 is recognized as the first official Mother’s Day celebration.
Anna Jarvis worked hard to promote the holiday, writing letters to churches, politicians, and city leaders. She had enlisted the help of John Wanamaker (the pioneer of marketing and advertising) and Henry J. Heinz (of Heinz Ketchup fame) to help her start a movement, and it worked.
Jarvis’ efforts resulted in a resolution ultimately being passed in Congress, dedicating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. By 1911, all of the states in the union had Mother’s Day proclamations. And she was very clear that the holiday was to be called “Mother’s” Day (singular) —”to honor the best mother who ever lived—yours.”
In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day an annual national observance.
Unfortunately, as time went on, Anna M. Jarvis was disappointed by how the Mother’s Day holiday had gotten too commercial. So much so that by 1920, she started convincing people to stop buying flowers and other gifts and even going head-to-head with the floral industry and other industries who helped her initially fight for the holiday.
Her ideal gift, she thought, was to write a heartfelt letter. “Any mother would rather have a line of the worst scribble from her son or daughter than any fancy greeting card,” she said. She came to loathe the holiday until her dying day in 1948, but her holiday lives on. (Farmers Almanac).

Gift ideas

• Give Mom a chance to unwind and de-stress on her special day. This could include a spa day package, a soft-comfy bathrobe and slippers set, a scented candle gift basket, or a subscription to a meditation app.
• Upgrade Mom's tech with a new smart device, noise-canceling headphones, a fitness tracker, or a subscription to a streaming service.
• Show Mom how much you care with a thoughtful gift that's uniquely hers. Consider a custom-made photo album, a personalized mug with a heartfelt message, a piece of jewelry engraved with her initials, or a framed artwork featuring her favorite quote.
• If Mom enjoys spending time outdoors and enhancing her living space, consider a gift like a set of gardening tools, a beautiful planter with flowers, a decorative wind chime, or a stylish throw blanket.

Experiences and getaways: Create lasting memories with a shared experience like a weekend getaway, tickets to a concert or show, a cooking class, or a wine tasting.

• Plan a family outing. 
• Bake some of Mom's favorite treats. 
• Make a coupon book for Mom.
• Gift mom with a beauty hamper.
• Make a family scrapbook.
• Binge-watch a favorite TV show together.
• Give Mom a gift card to her favorite store.
• Plan a scavenger hunt.

You can write a heartfelt note with some favorite memories or qualities and a simple “thank you” would mean so much. Quality Time Together: Spend a day with your mom doing activities she loves, whether it's going for a walk, cooking a meal together, or simply chatting over a cup of tea or coffee.
Scribe Memorable Moments
Remember that time? Make sure they do, too. Write your favorite memories with your recipient on slips of paper and place them in a pretty jar with a label like "Jar of Awesome." Include some blank slips so they can continue the tradition with new memories as you make them.
Write "Just in Case" Letters
Compose a series of heartfelt letters to suit different occasions, and label them "Read this when you're feeling blue" or "Read this when you have something to celebrate." This ensures you send your loved one just the right message at just the right moment.
Help Them Make Their Home Smell Delicious
Give them the ingredients for a "simmer pot" with vanilla, lemon, rosemary, and orange zest to help them give their home a fragrant makeover. 
Typically, I like to choose at least one ingredient from each of the following categories: fruit, fresh herbs, whole spices, and baking extracts.
A simmer pot is a wonderful, natural way to make your kitchen smell fresh. If you’ve not made one before, a simmer pot is essentially stovetop potpourri that’s a naturally aromatic way to make your whole house smell amazing. Basically, it’s a large pot of water set to a low simmer with fresh ingredients like sliced citrus fruits, berries, herbs and whole spices. While most people often think of a simmer pot for fall or during the holidays, there’s truly a simmer pot for every season! And it’s a great way to get rid of “kitchen smells” if you’ve cooking something with a lingering fragrance like salmon or Brussel sprouts. Get creative!

What Can I Put In My Simmer Pot?
A good smelling simmer pot has at least three ingredients, but you can add as many things as you like! Think of it a bit like cooking when it comes to pairing complimentary scents. For instance, lemon and rosemary, or vanilla and lavender. You can have quite a bit of fun creating your own simmer pot blends. Typically, I like to choose at least one ingredient from each of the following categories: fruit, fresh herbs, whole spices, and baking extracts. Here is a list of ingredient ideas to get you started and feel free to use whatever you already have in your kitchen! We also have some recipes for you below.
RECIPE
Place 2 cups water in a 1-quart pot, boil, then add:

• 1 lemon, cut into thin slices
• 3 sprigs rosemary
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

Reduce to a simmer and add more water to the pot as needed.
FRUIT
When it comes to fruit, stick with what is in season and pick a complimentary spice to go along with it. Citrus is great for a clean scent, while apples and cranberries can convey a coziness. As for the amount of fruit to use, I recommend using one whole fruit, cut in slices. Such as one sliced apple, or one sliced orange. For lemon and lime, you could add two or three of these sliced citrus fruits to your simmer pot. And in the case of berries, I recommend a half cup.

• oranges
• limes
• grapefruit
• lemons
• apples
• cranberries
• blackberries
• strawberries
• blueberries
• fresh or dried coconut

SPICES
Whole spices are best for a simmer pot as they hold up well to boiling. Pick a spice to compliment your fruit choice, or simply one you enjoy the scent of. Cinnamon is warm and cozy, ginger smells clean, and anise and clove give off a subtle licorice scent. 

• Whole Peppercorns
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Whole Cloves
• Star Anise
• Cardamom
• Bay Leaves
• Celery Seed
• Juniper Berries
• Ginger
• Dried Roses (available as a tea)

XTRACTS + OILS
When it comes to adding extracts or essential oils, if it is edible, you can add it to your simmer pot. You can use baking extracts or food safe essential oils. Start by adding one tablespoon of your choice of extract to your simmer pot. After it simmers for a little while, add an additional teaspoon if you’d like for the scent to be stronger.

• vanilla extract
• almond extract
• hazelnut extract
• peppermint extract
• maple extract
• lavender oil
• eucalyptus oil
• lemon extract or oil
• rosewater or rose extract

STOVETOP
Add the fruit, herbs, and spices to a large pot that is at least four quarts in size. Next, pour water into the pot and cover the ingredients with enough water that they float. Turn the stovetop heat to low and simmer for two hours. You can simmer for longer too, just check on the water and add more water each hour.
FRESH HERBS
Using fresh herbs in your seasonal simmer pot will leave a wonderfully aromatic scent in your home. Woodsy herbs, such as rosemary and oregano, hold up well to simmering. You can also use softer herbs like mint or parsley, but they wont last as long while simmering. I like to pick fresh rosemary or oregano from our yard, but in a pinch you can use dried herbs too. When deciding the amount, for fresh herbs I recommend 2-3 sprigs. And for dried herbs use a tablespoon.

• • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Oregano
  • Lavender
  • Sage
  • Mint
  • Parsley
  • Lemongrass

by Julia