The Evolution of Mother's Day: From Resentment to Record Spending.

The history of Mother's Day is a convoluted one, with at least five people credited with the idea before Anna Jarvis. Jarvis campaigned tirelessly to have it recognized as a national holiday, but then tried to have it canceled when it became too commercial. Despite her efforts, Mother's Day became part of the public domain and was marketed heavily, with Hallmark selling cards by the early 1920s. Jarvis died broke and in a sanatorium, railing against the commercialization of the day. While there are many ways to celebrate Mother's Day, some suggest volunteering or making a donation to organizations that support mothers.