Lesser-known facts about Mother’s Day that might surprise you—tidbits you’ll want to share with someone
When we think of Mother’s Day, we often picture a day to express gratitude to our mothers and give them carnations.
However, there may be surprisingly few people who know about its origins or how it’s celebrated around the world.
Trivia related to Mother’s Day is full of stories that will make you want to share them with someone the more you dig in! In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of Mother’s Day trivia.
The more you learn, the more Mother’s Day may feel like an even more special day than it does now!
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Unexpectedly little-known Mother's Day trivia: fun facts you'll want to share with someone (31–40)
There is a legend that carnations were born where the tears of the Virgin Mary fell.
There is a legend that carnations were born from the places where the Virgin Mary’s tears fell.
Carnations are considered a symbol of a mother’s love, and it is said that when Jesus Christ was crucified, the tears shed by the Virgin Mary fell to the ground and carnations bloomed there.
Red carnations are associated with “a mother’s love” and “deep love,” and they have become a customary Mother’s Day gift as flowers that express the Virgin Mary’s love and gratitude to mothers.
When giving carnations, expressing your appreciation to your mother as you present them may make her especially happy.
In Nepal, it’s not Mother’s Day but ‘the day to see your mother’s face.’
Mother’s Day is a time to express our gratitude to our mothers, but the way we show that gratitude varies from country to country.
How about exploring how it differs from Japan’s Mother’s Day by looking at how it’s celebrated in Nepal? In Nepal, one day between late April and early May is celebrated as “the day to see one’s mother’s face,” when people give gifts directly to their mothers to express their thanks.
The key point is the “direct” part—because it’s a face-to-face celebration, it gives the impression that the feeling of gratitude is conveyed all the more clearly.
Mother’s Day was introduced to Japan around the end of the Meiji era.
Mother’s Day is often thought of as part of Japanese culture, but it actually originated in America.
It is said to have begun when Anna Jarvis presented carnations in remembrance of her late mother, Ann Jarvis.
Mother’s Day was introduced to Japan around the end of the Meiji era.
At first, it was not in May but in March, on the Empress Dowager’s birthday.
Then, in 1937, a confectionery company held a Mother’s Day event, which became one of the catalysts for the holiday to gain wide recognition in Japan.
Rainbow-colored carnations were developed as a gift for Mother’s Day.
In recent years, rainbow carnations have been gaining attention as Mother’s Day gifts.
There are several types, but here we’ll introduce the rainbow pastel carnations crafted by Mr.
Tsuyoshi Hamazuka.
These carnations are dyed using a special technique, producing soft, delicate hues that can’t be achieved elsewhere.
By the way, the flower language (meaning) of rainbow-colored carnations is said to be “gratitude.” Give them as a present, and your appreciation will come across—and you’ll surely delight and surprise the recipient.
The market size for Mother’s Day in 2019 was 120.5 billion yen.
The market size for Mother’s Day in 2019 is said to have been 120.5 billion yen.
For reference, the market size for Halloween in 2019 was 115.5 billion yen, and Valentine’s Day was 126.0 billion yen, so they’re roughly the same scale.
It seems that in Japan, the custom of cherishing mothers and giving them gifts is well established.
In addition, there appear to be other factors at play, such as mothers purchasing items as gifts for themselves, more people seeking products that look good on social media, and the convenience of buying items online.
It’s generally the second Sunday in May, but there are countries where this isn’t the case.
In Japan, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May.
So, what about other countries? The United States, Canada, Italy, and Australia also celebrate it on the second Sunday of May, just like Japan.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom observes Mother’s Day on the Sunday two weeks before Easter.
In Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, Mother’s Day is on March 21.
While the date varies by country, it’s clear that gratitude toward mothers is universal.
Incidentally, Romania does not have a Mother’s Day, but there is a day when gifts are given to women.
The origin of Mother’s Day in the UK is a once-a-year homecoming day.
The origin of Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom is said to be Mothering Sunday.
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday in the 46 days leading up to Easter.
It became established as a “day to express gratitude to mothers” because it was a day when children who were working away from home would return to visit their mothers.
Even today in the UK, people express thanks to their mothers and give them gifts on Mothering Sunday.
It is also customary for everyone to eat Simnel cake together.
In Italy, a portion of the proceeds from Mother’s Day is used to support cancer research.
How Mother’s Day is celebrated varies from country to country, and sometimes the way it’s done really conveys the depth of feeling, doesn’t it? Among these different approaches, Italy’s Mother’s Day stands out: it conveys love not only for mothers but for many people.
In Italy, instead of carnations, potted azaleas are sold, and at the events where these azaleas are offered, a portion of the proceeds goes to cancer research.
It’s a form of celebration that seems to express not only the desire to help those who are ill, but also the wish that mothers will not fall sick in the first place.
Indonesia is the last country in the world to celebrate Mother’s Day.
The timing of Mother’s Day varies by country—some observe it earlier than Japan, while others celebrate it later.
How about learning how it’s celebrated in Indonesia, said to have the latest Mother’s Day in the world? The date of interest is December 22, just before Christmas, and it’s said to have originated from the convening of the Indonesian Women’s Congress in 1928.
Rather than giving gifts, it’s common to express gratitude in words, and precisely because there’s no emphasis on material things, the feelings may be conveyed more directly.
There are countries where people give daffodils or chrysanthemums instead of carnations.
In Japan, carnations have become the standard flowers to give on Mother’s Day.
However, other countries give different flowers.
For example, in Australia, chrysanthemums are common.
That’s because the English name “chrysanthemum” contains “mum.” In Thailand, it’s customary to give jasmine with its beautiful colors.
It’s interesting that, even though the message is the same, the flowers given differ by country.
By the way, the United States and South Korea, like Japan, give carnations.