EP11 – The History of Mother’s Day & How It Became a Marketing Phenomenon
Episode Summary
Mother’s Day: a wholesome celebration of maternal love… or a marketing masterclass wrapped in carnations and commercial sentiment?
In this episode of Marketing Made Clear, we unravel the surprisingly ancient origins of Mother’s Day—tracking it from Greek goddesses and Roman parades, to Victorian churches and finally to the juggernaut it is today: a multi-billion-pound industry powered by emotional advertising and… questionable brunches.
Key Takeaways
- Why ancient Greeks were the original mother-lovers
- How the Victorians unintentionally paved the way for Mothering Sunday
- Anna Jarvis: the founder of modern Mother’s Day (and its fiercest critic)
- How brands like Hallmark, P&G and Pandora turned maternal gratitude into marketing gold
- Whether the commercialisation of Mother’s Day is a clever campaign or a cynical cash-in
- Expect a deep dive full of storytelling, insight, and the return of MAIT—the rogue AI with truly awful mum jokes.
- It’s engaging, informative, and just the right side of hilarious. So if you’re a marketer, a student of the craft, or simply someone who’s ever panic-bought flowers at a petrol station… this one’s for you.
