[For Elementary School Students] A Collection of Fun, Educational Quiz Ideas for Mother's Day

Both the month and the date differ depending on the country.

In fact, both the month and the date differ by country. For example, in the United Kingdom it’s on a Sunday around spring, and in Thailand it’s in August—each country sets the date based on its history or someone important. Looking around the world, Mother’s Day takes many forms. Yet what all countries share is the gentle feeling that it’s a day to say “thank you” to mothers.

carnation

Red carnations carry feelings of “love for Mother” and “thank you.” Mother’s Day began when a kind American woman, Anna Jarvis, spread the idea of a day to show gratitude to mothers. In time, that sentiment reached Japan as well, and now on the second Sunday of May people give flowers and gifts. It’s wonderful to hand over beautiful flowers with the words “Thank you for everything.”

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture is where the most carnations are grown in Japan. Nagano stays cool even in summer, and because there’s a big difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, it’s the perfect environment for growing strong, healthy flowers. Many brightly colored, long-lasting carnations are cultivated there. The beautiful carnations lined up in flower shops on Mother’s Day might very well be ones carefully grown in Nagano.

America

The country where Mother’s Day was born is the United States of America. Over 100 years ago, a woman named Anna Jarvis began calling for a day to thank mothers. Anna cherished her late mother and wanted to share those feelings with many people. In time, her wish spread across the nation, and Mother’s Day was established.

Colombia

Colombia’s climate and elevation are perfect for flower cultivation, allowing vibrant, lively carnations to grow year-round. As a result, they’re exported worldwide and are widely used for Mother’s Day and celebratory bouquets. Many of the beautiful carnations you see at flower shops may have come from Colombia.

two

Carnations can be broadly divided into two types. One is “spray” carnations, where the petals cluster tightly and bloom in a softly rounded shape; the other is “standard” carnations, where a single large flower blooms on one stem. Both are popular for Mother’s Day, but spray types look festive with many small blossoms, while standard types have a strong presence and give a special impression. Knowing the flower type makes it easier to picture the gift you’re giving.

About 3,000 types

It’s said there are about 3,000 varieties in the world. They differ in color, shape, size, and fragrance, and come in a wide range not only of red and pink, but also yellow, white, and even purple. Because there are so many cultivars, when you go to a flower shop you’ll notice that even carnations of the same type each have slightly different expressions. The fact that there are so many kinds is proof that they’ve been carefully cultivated. When giving them for Mother’s Day, choosing with color and shape in mind will help your feelings come across even more.