Mom, Mum, Mummy, Mother! Where are my shoes? Where are my books? Where am I? Come pick me up! The Mother is the beacon, the memory, the culture, and the pillar of safety and love in any form the family unit takes. From the labor of giving birth, to the countless, never ending and unspoken sacrifices, there is nothing more sacred than a Mother's patient love. As we grow older, she is often the only one who still sees us as innocent. Bless all the women who work so hard to earn this often underappreciated title.
All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
So, on the one day of the year devoted to celebrating Mothers, you better believe yours deserves a big, beautiful bouquet. Because it took one woman losing hers, to create a day designed for celebrating yours.
In 1908, Anna Jarvis successfully campaigned in the United States to have the second Sunday in May designated as a national holiday to honor mothers. Jarvis was very specific in her aims however, so the spelling of Mother's Day used an apostrophe, in order for the day to be dedicated to each family honoring their Mothers, not all the Mothers in the world.
Of course, the world took to this holiday with gusto. And it was rapidly promoted and popularized internationally at a rapid rate. Within a decade, most countries at least considered it an observance, if not a full scale national holiday. In many cultures, it resembles the western celebration we know and love, however in other places in the world, Mother's Day is connected to existing holidays that have religious, cultural or historical significance.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, Mother's Day is strongly tied to the Virgin Mary. While in the Islamic faith there is no Mother's Day specifically, however Mothers occupy a high social status. In the Hindu tradition Mothers are celebrated on "Mata Tirtha Aunshi" and it is celebrated during the full moon in late April/early May. In Bolivia, the holiday is celebrated on the 27th of May to commemorate the Battle of La Coronilla, where women fought in war of independence. Whereas in Egypt it is celebrated on the 21st of March on the first day of spring, to coincide with the new season of birth and renewal.
In Western Cultures, the gift of choice is flowers. Specifically, the Carnation. As the Catholic legends tell us, when the Virgin Mary wept, pink carnations appeared where they landed on the ground. This made them the symbol for the purest expression of Motherhood, as Carnations symbolize love and fascination. They have one of the longest lives of cut flowers, so you can expect your Mother's Day bouquet to be enjoyed for weeks.
The love of a mother is the veil of a softer light between the heart and the heavenly Father.
As almost 100 years have passed since the inception of this holiday, and Mothers' tastes have grown and evolved, so give us a call, and any bouquet or arrangement can be created with Mom's preferences in mind. Of course, you get bonus points if you remember your Mom's favorite, so now might be the time to ask questions, or ask the family member with the best memory for a hint.
Here at Ottawa Flowers, we take the greatest of care to ensure that every Mother's Day bouquet that leaves our shop is designed to take your Mother's breath away. Awards and reviews aside, we all have Moms and understand the importance of getting your order right, and we consider it an honor that you chose us to help you celebrate such a special day.
