Carnations (the
flowers of Mother's Day)
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Carnations
were Anna Jarvis' mother's favorite flowers.So on the
3rd anniversary of her mother's death in 1908 the
observance of a general mother's day began with the
launch of programs at the Andrew's Methodist Episcopal
Church in Grafton and in Philadelphia.
Anna
sent along 500 white carnations, her mother's
favourite flower. In a telegram Anna
said that
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"each
one present will be given a white carnation; mothers
will be given two, in memory of the day.
These
five hundred carnations are given by a loyal, loving
daughter in honour and sacred memory of her good and
faithful mother, Mrs. Anna. R. Jarvis, who worked
faithfully and earnestly for twenty long years, as an
earnest teacher in our Sunday School, who only a few
years ago departed to that better world to reap the
reward of her labours here.
Everyone
is asked to wear this flower. |
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The
white carnation is preferred because it may be thought to typify some of
the virtues of motherhood; ....whiteness stands for purity; its lasting
qualities, faithfulness; its fragrance, love, its wide field of growth,
charity; its form, beauty..."
In the
ensuing years Anna sent over 10,000 carnations as gifts to the Andrews
Church.
Now
throughout the world, carnations - red for living parents and white
for deceased - are worn world wide as symbols of the purity, strength
and endurance of motherhood.
Caring
for Carnations
Carnations
are long-lasting flowers which originated from the area around the
Mediterranean. They have a vase life of 10-15 days with proper care. The
serrated petals come in a wide variety of solid and variegated
colors. The most common colors are red, white, yellow, orange,
purple and numerous shades of pink. Carnations are available year round
and come as standard or mini flowers.
Place 4-8
inches of cool water in a clean vase and add preservative according to the
manufacture's instructions on the package. If the buds are tight, use warm
water to promote more rapid opening.
Cut the
stems 1 to 2 inches and place in the solution, making sure that all the
leaves below the water line have been removed.
After two
days in the solution, place the flowers in clean water. This water should
be changed every day and the stems should be trimmed approximately a half-inch
every two or three days to promote longevity.
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