The carnations have become such a familiar part of Mother's Day observance
that they are said to be an emblem of mother love. But why and how these
flowers came to associate themselves with the Mother's Day?
Also called GRENADINE, OR CLOVE PINK, this herbaceous plant is a native to
the Mediterranean area. Its fringe petaled flowers often have a spicy
fragrance.
There are two general groups, the border, or garden, variety and the
perpetual flowering variety. Border carnations include a range of
varieties and hybrids. All flowers come in a range of colors, and are
usually less than 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter and are borne on wiry,
stiffly erect stems.
The perpetual flowering carnation, perhaps derived from crosses between
the border carnations and the China pink, produces larger flowers. The
flowers of this variety blooms almost continuously in the greenhouse.
Carnations are among the most popular cut flowers, used in floral
arrangements, corsages, and boutonnieres. In Europe the carnation was
formerly used as a treatment for fevers. It was also used to spice wine
and ale during Elizabethan times, as a substitute for the more expensive
clove.
In 1907, Miss Anna Jarvis selected the pink carnations as the symbol for
Mother's Day . So, like the Day itself it was Miss Jarvis who made it a
part of Mother's Day. She introduced and supplied these white carnations
at the first service conducted in Grafton, West Virginia. They were chosen
because of her mother's fondness for them.
May be, at first they were not exactly picked up on an emblematic sense.
But they were immediately accepted as appropriate for the occasion. It was
the inherent quality of sweetness, purity and endurance that made the
carnations so popular on Mother's Day.
Later, white carnations, with their sweet fragrance, came to be regarded
as the flowers meant for those who have missed their mothers. Missed,
either because of death, or, because of staying at a distance.
And it was the red carnations which in course of time became the symbol
while wishing a living mother love. Perhaps, red, the color of blood and
heart, was thought to be more suited to represent life and love.
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