Why Carnations Are Given to Mothers
The editor introduces why carnations are given to mothers and explores the ancient Chinese carnation culture and maintenance tips for this green plant. Next, the editor of the website will introduce to the netizens.
Today is Mother's Day, and it seems that there are many more children (and adults) holding carnations on the street. Considering the remarkably large brain of humans (which can easily cause dystocia during childbirth) and the overly long childhood (which requires parental support for survival), it is logical that Mother's Day and carnations have such a broad mass base.
On the other hand, just as we often overlook the labor of mothers, the origin of the modest and easy-to-care-for, yet inexpensive plant, carnation, is also unknown to many.
"Carnation" is a transliteration of "Carnation," and its scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllus, which comes from the combination of two Latin words: "dios" (meaning god) and "anthos" (meaning flower). Carnations are known as the "flowers of the gods."
Some colors and shapes of carnations (Image source: Wikipedia)
The calyx of the carnation is cylindrical, the obovate petals have serrated edges, and they somewhat resemble the shavings left when sharpening a pencil (Image source: China Flower News)
Carnation is the most beautiful herbaceous flower in the Caryophyllaceae family, with a plant height of 40-60 cm, opposite small leaves, stem-like leaves, and flowers singly or 4-5 on the upper part of the stem. The flower colors include red, purplish red, peach, rose, pink, orange yellow, yellow, white, and various mixed colors. It blooms continuously when cultivated in a pot at home. In the north, it is planted in a greenhouse or sunny ridge, while in the south, it is planted in sunny ridges or in the open field. Carnations prefer a warm, dry, and ventilated environment and are not cold-tolerant nor heat-tolerant, with the most suitable growth temperature between 15-25 degrees Celsius. In spring, short lateral branches are pinched off from the mother plant and inserted into peat soil or perlite substrates, covered with a plastic film to keep moisture, and they root in about a month.
Why Carnations Are Given to Mothers
The history of carnations can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where they were used for art and decoration. Christians believe that the first carnation bloomed on the ground when the Virgin Mary cried carrying the cross for Jesus. Early carnations were mostly light pink and peach, but over time, the available colors gradually expanded to include red, yellow, white, purple, and even green. Throughout many centuries of change, the popularity of carnations has never diminished.
In China, the cultivation of carnations began in 1910 and rapidly developed in the 1950s. In the 1980s, the Sim series varieties were mainly used, and new varieties were introduced from Europe, which were then virus-free propagated and widely promoted.
In the process of development, people have attached many cultural elements to carnations, with Western countries viewing them as a symbol of great and慈祥 mothers.
It is said that on May 9, 1905, Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia lost her mother. In her grief, she recalled the hardships her mother had endured in raising her and her sisters, which sparked the idea of establishing a holiday to express children's love for their mothers. On the anniversary of her mother's death, Miss Jarvis proposed the idea of Mother's Day and spoke everywhere, wrote booklets, and wrote letters to many well-known figures in the United States, even to the president. Her actions moved society, and on May 7, 1914, President Wilson approved a congressional resolution to designate the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
In May 1934, the United States issued its first Mother's Day stamp (Image source: Baidu Encyclopedia)
Perhaps because Miss Jarvis's mother liked carnations, in May 1934, the United States issued its first Mother's Day stamp, featuring a famous painting by Whistler of a mother looking intently at a vibrant carnation in a vase in front of her. This deep, pure, elegant, lingering, and profound image, along with the words "Remembering America's Mother's Day" on the stamp, resonated with people in many countries around the world through postal circulation, and thus Mother's Day was internationally recognized, and carnations were hailed as the flower of mothers. On Mother's Day in the West, it is customary for those whose mothers have passed away to wear white flowers, while those whose mothers are still alive wear colored flowers.
Besides symbolizing mothers, carnations have symbolic meanings in many countries.
Carnations are considered the national flower of Spain, especially in the south, where they are associated with passion and desire. Red carnations (along with red roses) are also related to International Workers' Day (May 1) and general labor movements. Purple carnations are often used as funeral flowers in France and are seen as a symbol of changeability. White carnations are considered a symbol of love in some countries or regions, and carnations are also seen as a symbol of dedication.
The above is why carnations are given to mothers and the specific content of exploring ancient Chinese carnation culture, for everyone's reference.