In the early 1900's Anna Maria Jarvis, the woman who made Mother's
Day a national holiday in the U.S. passed out her mother's
favorite flower, the white
carnation, at her church service to honor her mother. This gesture
later became the premise for the customary wearing of carnations
on Mother's Day. The white carnation symbolizes purity, sweetness,
patience and love. Wearing a white carnation also symbolizes honoring
your mother who has passed away, whereas wearing a pink carnation symbolizes
honoring your living mother.
At first, people observed Mother's
Day by attending church, and writing letters to their mothers. Now
it is also common and traditional for people to give or send their mothers,
grandmothers and other mothers they know cards,
flowers,
and/or gifts
to show their love and appreciation.
Phone calls to mothers, special visits and celebratory meals are also
ubiquitous on this special day. In fact, the second Sunday of May has
become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines
record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage
of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers.
In the early 1900's Anna Maria Jarvis, the woman who made 