05/19/2023
Did you know that Mother's Day in North America was first envisioned as a day to celebrate motherhood and peace by the same woman who penned the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," the famous Civil War-era song? Deeply affected by the death and carnage of the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian war, Julia Ward Howe wrote a Mother's Day Proclamation in 1870 calling on all mothers to come together to end, what she considered, the futility of their sons killing one another.
In this call for an International Mother's Day, Howe wrote:
"Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts...
We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs...
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace."
And, with this impassioned plea for peace, Howe, the ardent suffragist and abolitionist, planted the seed that would blossom into the holiday we celebrate today, though it would take 44 years and the campaigning of another activist, Anna Jarvis, before President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday in 1914. By the mid-20th century, this modern version of Mother's Day had spread to over 40 countries and today is celebrated in over 70 worldwide.
For an excellent biography for adult readers about Julia Ward Howe, we highly recommend "The Civil Wars of Julia Ward Howe" at https://www.amightygirl.com/the-civil-wars-of-julia-ward-howe
For our favorite books for children and teens about the special love between mothers and daughters, check out our blog post "Celebrating Mighty Moms & Their Daughters" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=11469
To introduce children to another famous peace activist and the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, we highly recommend "Dangerous Jane" for ages 6 to 10 at https://www.amightygirl.com/dangerous-jane
For two inspiring books for young readers filled with practical advice on how to make change on issues they care about, we recommend "Start Now! You Can Make a Difference" for ages 7 to 11 (https://www.amightygirl.com/start-now) and "Be A Changemaker" for ages 12 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/be-a-changemaker)
And, for more true stories of inspiring girls and women who have stood up for peace and justice throughout the world, visit our “Activist” biography section at http://amgrl.co/2miHQM0
