Let's learn about the history of Mother's Day! A florist explains in detail.
Mar 07, 2025
Learn the History of Mother's Day! Explained in Detail by a Florist
Mother's Day is an ancient holiday. But perhaps not many people know how Mother's Day came to be?
This article will explain Mother's Day in detail! Why do we give carnations as gifts? I will explain each point in detail.
Learn more about Mother's Day and express your gratitude to your mother!
What is the origin of Mother's Day?
Mother's Day is a day to honor mothers. But in fact, a day to honor mothers has existed since ancient times.
Its roots are said to be in ancient Greek festivals honoring Rhea, the goddess of fertility, and "Hilaria," a Roman festival dedicated to Cybele, the mother goddess.
In medieval Europe, a religious holiday called "Mothering Sunday" was established, and on the fourth Sunday of Lent, believers had a custom of returning to the church where they were born and raised.
The church where one was born and raised was called "Mother Church." This Mothering Sunday became a day to express gratitude to mothers.
Is Ann Reeves Jarvis the mother of "Mother's Day"?
The origin of the modern Mother's Day dates back to 19th-century America.
It was during the American Civil War in the 1860s when a woman named Ann Reeves Jarvis in West Virginia established the "Mother's Day Work Club."
This club helped poor communities during the Civil War, working to improve sanitation and prevent disease.
Even after the Civil War ended, she organized "Mothers' Friendship Day" to promote reconciliation between soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies.
"Mother's Day Proclamation"
Later, in 1870, Julia Ward Howe, a peace activist, issued the "Mother's Day Proclamation" to abolish war.
Two years later, she proposed a holiday called "Mother's Peace Day," making it a day for mothers to oppose war.
However, this "Mother's Peace Day" did not gain widespread popularity and gradually faded into obscurity.
Anna Jarvis spreads Mother's Day!
Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, was instrumental in popularizing the current Mother's Day.
After her mother Ann passed away, Anna launched a movement to create a "day to honor mothers!"
She then held a Mother's Day ceremony in Grafton, West Virginia. This is the first recorded instance of the current Mother's Day.
At that time, participants offered white carnations, her mother's favorite flower. Many people were moved by this ceremony, and "Mother's Day" began to spread to various places.
Then, in 1914, then-U.S. President Woodrow Wilson officially declared "the second Sunday in May" a national holiday! "Mother's Day" was established.
It became commercialized, but Anna had mixed feelings...?
As "Mother's Day" became a national holiday, florists and confectioners began to commercially exploit it, encouraging people to "give presents to their mothers!"
However, Anna viewed Mother's Day as "a day to purely honor mothers" and was conflicted by its commercialization.
After that, she strongly protested the commercialization of Mother's Day! Her activities even escalated to filing lawsuits, but she couldn't stop the spread of Mother's Day,
and Anna passed away.
What is the history of Mother's Day in Japan?
In Japan, the custom of celebrating "Mother's Day" is said to have begun around the end of the Meiji era.
It spread mainly among Christian organizations. Later, in 1931, there was a movement to make March 6, the Empress's (Empress Kojun) birthday, Mother's Day.
However, this did not gain much traction.
Did Morinaga & Co. popularize Mother's Day nationwide?
In 1926, the 15th year of Taisho, Morinaga & Co. launched a "Mother's Day" campaign, making Mother's Day widely known throughout the country.
Later, in 1937, the 12th year of Showa, Morinaga & Co. held the "National Mother's Day Convention"! This became one of the catalysts for the widespread adoption of Mother's Day.
The culture of thanking mothers and giving them presents on Mother's Day took root, and Japanese people also began to give sweets and flowers as gifts.
"Mother's Day" as a national policy
In 1938, the 13th year of Showa, the "Dainippon Rengo Fujinkai," a women's organization of the government, officially designated the second Sunday in May as "Mother's Day."
Taking advantage of this, florists across the country accelerated the sale of carnations! The official establishment of "Mother's Day" triggered a rapid increase in demand for flowers.
About Mother's Day after the war
During the war, due to shortages, the custom of giving flowers declined, and the culture of thanking mothers on "Mother's Day" withered.
After the war, the "Mother's Day" culture gradually revived, and in the 1950s, department stores began large-scale promotions for "Mother's Day gifts" and "carnations."
In the 60s, Japanese growers also expanded their cultivation of carnations for Mother's Day.
Around this time, the image of Mother's Day became firmly associated with red carnations.
About the commercial history of Mother's Day flowers
As mentioned above, Mother's Day and flower gifts are closely related.
Here, I will explain in detail how the culture of giving flowers on Mother's Day became established!
Reading this might deepen your understanding of Mother's Day even further. The carnations you give every year might take on a deeper meaning.
Why give carnations?
The reason why carnations are given as gifts on Mother's Day is attributed to Anna Jarvis distributing "white carnations" at a church in remembrance of her late mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, who loved white carnations during her lifetime.
After that, the custom of offering "red carnations" to living mothers and "white carnations" to deceased mothers became established.
Today, various carnations are given as gifts, and Japan also adopted this custom for a while.
Anna strongly opposed the commercial sale of flowers on Mother's Day!
As Mother's Day gradually grew in popularity, the American flower industry began heavily promoting carnations as "the flower of Mother's Day!"
By 1925, carnations for Mother's Day were being sold in large quantities at flower shops across the United States.
However, Anna vehemently protested, stating that "Mother's Day is a day to purely honor mothers" and "not a day for businesses to make profits."
She criticized the commercialization of Mother's Day and even launched a campaign to "stop selling carnations!"
However, Anna's efforts were in vain, and the flower industry increasingly viewed Mother's Day as a business opportunity and continued its promotions.
Were roses and gerberas given during the war?
When World War II began, the supply of flowers drastically decreased.
As a result, carnations became difficult to obtain in large quantities, and the opportunity to give carnations on Mother's Day diminished.
Therefore, substitutes such as roses and gerberas began to be sold for Mother's Day, gaining considerable popularity.
After the war, the momentum for giving flowers increased even further!
After the war, as the economy grew and flower distribution stabilized, "Mother's Day" also made a comeback as usual!
The demand for carnations further increased, and promotions were carried out mainly by florists and department stores.
Other flowers also gained popularity, and in the 60s, Mother's Day gifts became more diverse due to the diversification of floral designs!
Flowers such as roses, gerberas, and hydrangeas became popular Mother's Day gifts.
In the 80s, TV commercials saying "Let's give flowers on Mother's Day!" were aired, and large-scale promotions were carried out.
Today, sending flowers online is common.
In the 2000s, it became common to order products online and have them delivered directly to mothers' homes.
In the 2010s, preserved flowers also appeared. High-quality artificial flowers, such as artificial flowers, also emerged.
Mother's Day gifts began to be developed and sold to meet various demands.
In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in people choosing to give "their mother's favorite flowers" rather than sticking to carnations!
&YOUKAEN is currently selling Mother's Day flower gifts!
&YOUKAEN is also selling Mother's Day flower gifts. We offer a wide variety of lineups, including bouquets and flower arrangements using carnations.
YOUKAEN's flower gifts are characterized by "bouquets that are praised." We sell highly designed flower gifts that will make your mother say, "You have good taste!"
They are finished in Mother's Day-like pink and orange colors, so you can purchase with confidence! Please give YOUKAEN's flower gifts for Mother's Day!
