Blog Kindergarten: A Bossy Tutorial. Mother's Day.

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 this we know about Julia Ward Howe: she was not a subtle broad:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
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 guys 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 that 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.

Comments

[Dharmamama]

So I guess it would be inappropriate to celebrate Mother's Day by roaming the streets drunk? Dang! I know at least two friends who will be disappointed about that. I just popped in to wish you Happy Mother's Day - and I got a whole history! I never know what I'll find here. Happy, happy Mother's Day, Bossy!

[Mary]

Happy Mothers Day Bossy. Thanks for another fabulous history lesson!

[Just Jamie]

It's about Dawn a.m. and we're already celebrating Mother's Day with mimosas over here. Cheers to you Bossy on this day of handprint art, spa gift certificates, and greeting cards.

[Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal)]

Hmmm.. Mother's Day always involves alcohol for this mama! It's a family tradition...

[Momo Fali]

Well, I'll drink to that. Happy Mother's Day!

[Cheri]

Bossy sure can toot those tutorials! Happy Mother's Day Bossy.

[Howard]

And here I was thinking that it was all an invention of Hallmark to capitalize on guilt. Oh, Crap! I have to call my mom!

Happy Mother's Day!

[All Adither]

HMD. I still may down some wine tonight. On the sly. My mother-in-law is visiting.

Thanks for the lesson.

[AMomTwoboys]

Had I known Mother's Day started as an anti-drinking movement I would NOT have been so happy to celebrate it all these years.

Happy Mother's Day!

[Missy]

Happy Mothers Day, Bossy. Another informative and hilarious post.

[that girl]

Damn, I hate when I learn something on your blog. You're all smart and stuff. Have a Bossy Mother's Day! smooooch.

[cagey]

Yessiree, Mother's Day is mighty special to us here in Kansas City. Thanks J.C.!

Have a nice day, Bossy. :-)

[What Happens Next]

Happy Mother's Day, Bossy!

I know it's one of the "Hallmark Holidays" and all, but dammit, it's a good one! Drinks all around!

[Chesapeake Bay Woman]

I just love Bossy's math and her intricate equations. Have a wonderful Mother's Day.

[Gloria]

So I learn something new today, about Mother's Day no less. Happy Mother's Day, bossy. And lay off the liquor. :p

[Lisa]

Raising a glass and toasting Miss Bossy and all you other muthers out there!
Lisa
coastal nest

[Melissa]

Weird. Isn't there another holiday that involves 3 guys roaming around?

[Madness]

Happy Mothers Day Bossy. Madness likes it when you say Drunkards .. heehee

[Jenn @ Juggling Life]

So it would be odd to celebrate Mother's Day by drinking?!

[Sister Honey Bunch]

Well, that was some very valuable information. Now, where's my gin?

[Meg]

Ah, yes, I remember Wanamaker's. And I was actually going to write "now, where's my gin?" But I see Sister Honey Bunch beat me to it.

Happy Mother's Day Bossy! And Cheers!

[Kevin Charnas]

Kevin thinks Bossy is the SHIZZ.

And just between me, you and the woodwork, I heard that John Wannamaker really just wanted-to-maker-outer with that slut Anna. And then he did. And then he got scabies.

But, I may be wrong on that one.

[Mrs. G.]

Happy Mother's Day Bossy!

[Laura]

Happy Mother's Day Bossy and to all the mom readers, bloggers out there! This was a very entertaining post-love the glitter and macaroni art!

[Amy]

What about the part when Anna Jarvis never has kids of her own and spends her entire inheritance trying to get Mother's Day canceled? Happy Mother's Day Bossy, you done good! xoxo, SG

[blackbird]

From Tuvalu to you -
Happy Mother's Day.
Your kids are lucky people.

[Liz]

I'll bet that Juliet Calhoun Blakeley was a total closet drinker. I can tell because I see it in the mirror daily, fo shizzle.

Word to your mother's day.

[moo]

Well, at least it's not a FAKE holiday (like Valentine's Day).

Happy Mother's Day!

[Cactus Petunia]

Cheers, Bossy!
And Happy Mother's Day.
Now, where did I put my drink?

[dgm]

An anti-drinking campaign? That's ridiculous. Parenting would not be nearly as easy if I didn't have me my pints of Guinness.

Down with Mother's Day! Who's with me?

[Ree (the Other one)]

Happy Mother's Day Bossy! From a Michigan daughter who is drinking on Mother's Day.... And I'm not that far from Albion. Home of the Albion College Britons!

[Grandma J]

Bossy was on the same wavelength as me, except Bossy's memory goes back way further than Grandma J's.

Looks like theres' still a space on that couch for Stella....maybe Bossy too.

Happy Mother's Day!

[karla ~ looking towards heaven]

I could have sworn that I read somewhere that Mother's Day was started in 237 BC by some nitwit with an Oedipus complex.

Dang- I knew I should have paid better attention in history class...

Happy Mother's Day!

xo~K

[Jen]

I just felt like I should take notes, is there a test?

Happy Mother's DAy to the the Bossy-est I know ;)

[junebug]

You are a bundle of wisdom. Happy Mother's/non-drunkard's Day to you. Hope you have a Hall-mark of a day.

[gretchen]

hehehe. glitter. yeah! Bossy is wonderful

[Nora Bee]

I'm all tutored now, thanks and Happy Mother's Day to you!

[Nora Bee]

Me again. Can I just say that there is an ad for "Asian Girls For Love and Marriage" on your right sidebar? Hee hee.

[Lori]

From a mom who grew up in Michigan, and now lives near Boston, I would like to make a toast to another mom who entertains us daily with her witty and informative blog. Happy Mother's Day Bossy!

[Mama Bear]

As I sit here pondering over my Cosmo (pale, with ice), I wonder what the people of Grafton, West Virginia are thinking about this. Their history relates Anna Jarvis honoring her mother at a church ceremony in her WV hometown with flowers presented to every mother in the congregation, in honor of the second anniversary of her own mother's passing. Aw shucks, after another Cosmo, I wouldn't care if Brittany Spears took credit for creating Mother's Day.

[Foolery]

I think just about everything worth celebrating was an outgrowth of the temperance movement. Like jazz, speakeasys, and now, I'm learning, Mother's Day. Raise a glass.

[Suzanne]

Um, why is Bossy's blog selling Asian girls?

On Mother's Day, no less? Are we hoping they'll be mothers in time for next year's Mother's Day?

WTF is GoogleAds thinking??

[Camille]

Yeah, well Happy Mothers' Day anyway, you big party pooper.

[Cathy]

I love your history lessons.
Thanks for this and Happy Mother's Day!

[The Domestic Goddess]

Anti-drining? Ooops. Totally screwed that one up, what with having three glasses of wine at dinner today and all...

[Mom101]

Happy day, Mama Bossy

[Imaginina]

And the college in Albion is still the biggest party school in the state. More than one tradition born there......

[Audubon Ron]

See, I never knew that.

[LaskiGal]

I just knew Hallmark had a hand in this! (duh) Oh well, I got the cutest American Greetings card :) for my first Mother's Day. Love the background info!!!

De-lurking (finally) and wishing you a great Mother's Day!

[Shelle]

Loved the history lesson...didn't know Hallmark had anything to do with it...but duh...of course he did...that smart guy! Anyhow...love your blog!

[Submommy]

So, my own Boy Child decided that he was so excited to wish me a Happy Mother's Day that he would wake up screaming at 4:45 am. Then, he kept screaming until I got him up and gave him some boob.

Happy Mother's Day to ME!

Thanks for the history lesson. Informative as always.

[Tootsie Farklepants]

I had this sneaking suspicion that Mother's Day was borne of alcohol. Can't wait for the history about Flag Day!

[William]

Where is the connect the dots to breakfast in bed and bath beads?

[Manic Mommy]

I'm confused. Mothers who don't drink? And we're celebrating that why?

[mr.lootiatto]

As bossys mom, I taught her that this 1 "special" day was all designed by hallmark...but as usual, I learn from B that its roots are founded in intolerance! more grist for my mill!
On the sweet side...
how bout those fellas of ours
They cooked us a meal from a to z.
absolutely amazing prosciutto and melon to the
zzzzzzz after the scrumptous meal.

[magpie]

I love learning new things from Bossy.

[Jami]

No drinking on Mother's Day? Now I want another glass of wine. And a beer. But please don't tell my dad that Father's Day doesn't involve drinking. I'm begging you!

[wendy m]

Pretty funny about the whole temperance thing considering that the only way I got through my mother's day was by drinking gallons of mimosa's.

(The Asian girl ad cracked me up too...WTG Google...)

[Moi]

Happy Mother's Day, Bossy!

May all the glitter in your vacuum come out easily.

[meleah rebeccah]

Happy Belated Mothers Day...

[HeyJoe]

I knew those Hallmark bastards were behind this. I have to say, Mother's Day has become a rather stressful "holiday."

[Candy]

Last year at this time, I was forced to sit through an opera written by a co-worker, set to the letters of Julia Ward Howe. My ears are still bleeding.

[mary]

Everybody I knew from Albion carried on that grand ol drunkard tradition, no matter what day of the year.

Oh, and sometimes illegal narcotics entered the mix as well....

nice to know that there is a historical precedent!

[Elizabeth]

Hey! Guess who went to ALBION COLLEGE? And guess who's paternal ancestors lived there for just about forever and one of them was even the Mayor for a few years? And guess who had to go to mandatory Chapel the Sunday before Mother's Day and hear ALL ABOUT how Mother's Day was founded in Albion and aren't we special?

That would be me. Hope you had the happiest of Mother's Days!