Mother's Day

We thought you might enjoy some Mother's Day Trivia, Folk Customs, Myths and Fun Facts from Around the World .

Rosa Parks was the mother of bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that launched the Civil Rights Movement.

Chinese family names are often formed (begin) with a sign that means "mother". It's a nice way of honoring their moms long past.

The ancient Greeks celebrated Mother's Day in spring, like we do. They used to honor Rhea, "mother of the gods" with honey-cakes and fine drinks and flowers at dawn. Sounds like the beginnings of the Mother's Day tradition of breakfast in bed!

Mother Shipton was a Prophetess in Britain 500 years ago. She could see the future, and predicted that another Queen Elizabeth would sit on the throne of England. (QE II)

Japan's Imperial family trace their descent from Omikami Amaterasu, the Mother of the World.

Julia Ward Howe wrote the Battle Hymm of the Republic and was a staunch fighter for women's rights. She staged an unusual protest for peace in Boston, by celebrating a special day for mothers. Julia wanted to call attention to the need for peace by pointing out mothers who were left alone in the world without their sons and husbands after the bloody Franco-Prussian War.

Hindu scripture credits the Great Mother, Kali Ma, with the invention of writing through alphabets, pictographs and beautiful sacred images.

George Washington once said, "My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."

The Greek word "meter" and the Sanskrit word "mantra" mean both mother and measurement.
Mother Goose is one of the most popular of all children's entertainers. Her books and stories have been loved for many generations.

Native American Indian women have long been honored with the name, "Life of the Nation" for their gift of motherhood to the tribes.

Ancient Egyptians believed that "Bast" was the mother of all cats on Earth, and that cats were sacred animals.

Rose Kennedy once said, "I looked on child-rearing not only as a work of love and duty, but as a profession that was fully as interesting and challenging as any honorable profession in the world, and one that demanded the best that I could bring it."

Buddha honored mothers when he said, "As a mother, even at the risk of her own life, loves and protects her child, so let a man cultivate love without measure toward the whole world."

Mother's Day is now celebrated in many countries around the world. Australia, Mexico, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Russia, China, Thailand, all have special celebrations to honor Mothers, but not in the same way or on the same day as the United States.

In the Bible, Eve is credited with being the "Mother of All the Living."

During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday." Servants would go home to see their families, bringing cakes and sweets to their moms. This custom was called "going a-mothering". Each mother would receive a simnel-cake (Latin for "fine flour) and mother's would give a blessing to their children.

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia began the campaign that brought about the official observance of Mother's Day in the United states. Her mother died, and Anna wanted all mothers to be remembered. She asked that white carnations be the official mother's day symbol. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the orders that made Mother's Day a national holiday.
Just nine years later, Anna filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop the over- commercialization of Mother's Day. She lost her fight. Now, cards, letters, candy and dinners out mark Mother's Day for most families. Anna had hoped for a day of reflection and quiet prayer by families, thanking God for all that mothers had done.

Mother Earth is also known as "Terra Firma". That title is a Latin translation of some lines from one of the Greek poet, Homer's, greatest poems.

How to place a flower order with a Florist
When people place flower orders over the phone or on-line, it’s always a gamble. Normally, the person placing the order never sees the flowers, and few friends or colleagues will call to say, “ Thank you so much for the half-dead, ordinary-looking flower arrangement."When purchasing flowers over the phone, there are a couple of ways to guard against a florist providing substandard flowers. First, know a little bit about flowers and ask if what you like is available at that particular time of year then give the flower shop some room to be creative around what you have chosen. The more knowledgeable you are, the better off you will be. Secondly, remember that you are ordering for someone else not for yourself. We often hear “I hate a particular color” well, you not liking that shade does not mean the recipient also dislikes it. Lastly, if you must call a shop that is out of state know the caliber of florist that you’re calling. Are they up to Carey’s Flowers standards? Has Carey’s Flowers given their name and number to you or have you just picked a needle out of a haystack on-line?
To truly avoid disappointment and the hassle of requesting a refund or replacement, steer clear of ordering flowers on-line from what are known as ‘Order Gatherers’ as their loyalty is to the almighty dollar and certainly not to you. These ‘Order Gatherers’ are often found at the top of search engines but are certainly not the pick of the litter. 1-800-you-knowwho, FTD, Teleflora direct, Just Flowers, and this just points out a few.Even in NYC where the level of sophistication is supposed to be higher than other places, what arrives at someone’s door can vary widely. Have in mind the style and vase size when ordering. The low and lush look is popular in a glass cube or cylindrical vase and does double duty as a centerpiece or on someone’s desk at work. For more impact, expect to pay more; it is impossible to build a Castle with the budget for a mobile home. Call in advance and most florists will bend over backwards to get what you are looking for. However if given 1 day or even less (several hours notice) the florist can not magically make the flowers appear. We do not have the ‘Easy’ button often shown on the Staples commercial. With digital cameras, it’s not uncommon for the recipient to take a photo of the flowers and send a thank you e-mail along with a photo. This is a way for the recipient to let the sender know what the flowers look like, and if they’re substandard, or not fresh. If that is the situation, the sender can request a replacement be sent.If you’re really impressed with a florist’s work, it only takes a few seconds to call and say thank you. Believe me this sends us to the moon and back, running around with crazy smiles pasted to our faces all day!!!Once you find a florist that is consistent with turning out beautiful designs using very fresh flowers, stick with them. As we have stuck with you …..for 97 years now.

Emotional Impact of Flowers Study

With today's high-tech and fast-paced lifestyle taking its daily toll on our lives, experts advise exercise and other personal lifestyle changes to relieve stress. According to behavioral research conducted at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, nature provides us with a simple way to improve emotional health - flowers. The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfaction and affects social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed.
"What's most exciting about this study is that it challenges established scientific beliefs about how people can manage their day-to-day moods in a healthy and natural way," said Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Rutgers and lead researcher on the study.
Research Findings
A team of researchers explored the link between flowers and life satisfaction in a 10-month study of participants' behavioral and emotional responses to receiving flowers. The results show that flowers are a natural and healthful moderator of moods.
Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants expressed "true" or "excited" smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.
Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.
Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.
"Common sense tells us that flowers make us happy," said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "Now, science shows that not only do flowers make us happier than we know, they have strong positive effects on our emotional well being."
Sharing Space
The study also explored where in their homes people display flowers. The arrangements were placed in areas of the home that are open to visitors - such as foyers, living rooms and dining rooms - suggesting that flowers are a symbol for sharing."Flowers bring about positive emotional feelings in those who enter a room," said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "They make the space more welcoming and create a sharing atmosphere."