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

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.

trumpet daffodil

In the UK, it’s common to give daffodils on Mother’s Day. Since the flower language of daffodils is “respect,” they’re perfect for the occasion. In the UK, people also give a cake called a Simnel cake along with these daffodils.

number of items

The meaning of carnations varies not only by color but also by the number of stems. One stem can mean “gratitude” or “you are my destined one,” eight stems “thank you for your compassion,” and fifty stems “eternity,” among others. When giving carnations as a gift, pay attention not only to the color but also to the number.

blue

“Moondust” is a blue carnation jointly developed by Japanese and Australian companies. It’s a color not found in naturally occurring carnations and was created with the image of moonlight in mind. Its flower meaning is “eternal happiness.”

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.

Flower of God

The scientific name of the carnation in English is “Dianthus caryophyllus.” The term “Dianthus” comes from Greek and means “flower of the gods.” By the way, in everyday English, the word “carnation,” which is pronounced the same as in Japanese, is commonly used.

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.

All women

In Hungary, there is a custom of expressing gratitude not only to mothers but to all women on Mother’s Day. For that reason, it’s considered “Women’s Day” rather than Mother’s Day, and it falls on the first Sunday of May. Even if you don’t live in Hungary, it’s a nice idea to show appreciation on this day to various women in your life—your mother, of course, as well as your grandmother, older sister, younger sister, aunts, and more.

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.

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture produces the most carnations in Japan. Within Nagano, production is especially active in the Saku area, which is known for its many sunny days and dry climate. Besides Nagano, Aichi Prefecture and Hokkaido are also major producers.