Why Do We Celebrate Mother's Day?

Have you ever wondered how Mother's Day came about and why floral gifts are so popular?

Mother's Day was brought about because of one woman's determination to honor her Mother back in 1907. Anna M. Jarvis asked the preacher to speak in her mother's memory at a church service in West Virginia in May of 1907. At this service, Anna gave 500 white carnations to the attendants. Then, the following year the church bell rang 72 times representing each year of the life of her mother. Anna's mother had organized Mother's Work Clubs in West Virginia towns before the civil war started, and she also organized a Mother's Friendship Day to help with the healing of the past war scars and bad feelings brought on by this terrible war. So, Anna started a campaign to create a formal holiday by writing letters and lobbying congressmen. And West Virginia became the first state to have an official Mother's Day in 1910. Four years later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day a national holiday in 1914. The actual day was set for the 2nd Sunday in May.

Anna did not intend for Mother's Day to be commercialized like it is today. She fought against this notion to the point of not wanting people to buy cards for their Mothers.

However, many people give cards to their Mother, and many purchase floral gifts, such as roses being a popular choice. I don't know of any woman that doesn't like to receive flowers!

But the floral gift don't have to be one that is bought from a florist.  The flower gift can be hand picked flowers that are placed in an arrangement in a vase or jar.  The flowers can be gathered from your yard or a friend's yard or even wild flowers by the side of the road.  Fern which can be placed at the back of the flower arrangement for decoration can be found growing on the northside of banks that are in the shade. 

Also there is a tradition at the church I attend, for women to wear corsages on the left side of their chest.  Red roses (one, two or three) depending on the size of the rose, are worn if the mother of the wearer of the corsage is still living and white is worn if the mother is not living.  Another option, for example, is to wear a white and red rose or a white rose with red ribbon if you have a stepmother who is living and the real mother is deceased or if you just fwant to represent your mother living in your heart with a red rose or red ribbon, that is acceptable also.  Many men at my church wear one rose, either red or white.  Again, it is dependant on the mother either living or deceased.

If you would like to make your corsage you will need several items that can be purchased at a store, such as Hobby Lobby or Walmart.  Listed below are the items:

• flowers - artificial or fresh (roses preferably-white or red) carnations will do - any store that sells artificial flowers in bunches will work great!
• ribbon - red or white (or both)
• pipe cleaner - red or white
• green floral tape
• hat pin (or just a safety pin or straight pin)

Take scissors and cut the flowers by the stem, leaving the stem for the first flower about three inches.  If you want to use two roses, place the second one below the first and cut stem accordingly to match the length of the first when placed together (staggered).  If the flower has a green leaf on it, you can leave that attached if you prefer.  Cut the pipe cleaner about 5 or 6 inches long and place in a u shape.  Make a bow with the ribbon and place the pipe cleaner over the center of the bow, such as putting a saddle on a horse.  Then twist the pipe cleaner ends together about two inches down from the bow.  Then place the bow behind the flowers and wrap the pipe cleaner around the flower stems.  Then wrap the floral tape around the flower stems and pipe cleaner in a circular motion beginning from the flower closest to the bottom and working downwards so that it is tightly wrapped. When finished the tape should look like a green stem.  Place the corsage on the left side of the chest and attach to the clothing with a pin.  If you are making a corsage for the man then use one rose and follow same directions and place on lapel of coat.

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