[For Elementary School Students] Interesting Quiz About Mother's Day

Easter

Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom is held on the Sunday three weeks before Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also called Mothering Sunday and originally was a day to visit one’s mother church, the church a person had attended since birth. Over time, it gradually evolved into a day, similar to Mother’s Day in many other countries, to express gratitude to mothers.

The Day I See My Mother's Face

In Nepal, Mother’s Day is called “the day to see your mother’s face.” It falls on one day between late April and early May, around Japan’s Golden Week. Instead of flowers, people give gifts of sweets or other foods. Married women are said to bring their own home-cooked dishes to their mothers.

Indonesia

The country that celebrates the latest Mother’s Day in the world—on December 22—is Indonesia. This date was chosen because the Indonesian Women’s Congress was held on this day in 1928. Incidentally, the earliest Mother’s Day in the world is observed on the second Sunday of February in Norway.

Meiji era

Mother’s Day was introduced to Japan around the end of the Meiji era. Entering the Taisho era, events began to be held in churches and gradually spread throughout society. Then, in 1931, “Mother’s Day” was set on a date different from the one observed today.

Love for my mother

Red carnations have the flower meaning “a mother's love.” Like other flowers, carnations have different meanings depending on their color: pink means “gratitude,” orange means “pure love,” and purple means “elegance,” among others. Dark red and white carnations carry somewhat negative meanings, so it’s best to avoid them for Mother’s Day.

chrysanthemum

In Japan, it’s common to give carnations for Mother’s Day, but in Australia, chrysanthemums are typically given. Chrysanthemum is called “chrysanthemum” in English, and when abbreviated it becomes “mum,” a word that means “mother,” which is why chrysanthemums are given as gifts in Australia.

Edo period

Carnations were introduced to Japan from the Netherlands during the Edo period. Because of this, they were initially called names like “Oranda Sekichiku” and “Oranda Nadeshiko.” Later, in the Meiji era, the first carnations produced in Japan appeared, and during the Showa period the number of varieties increased rapidly.