“No language can express the power and beauty and heroism of a mother’s love.” - Edwin Chapin
The Origin of Mother's Day
In Japan also, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May each year.
Around 100 years ago, a woman named Anna Jarvis held a memorial service and gave out white carnations at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia .
In 1910, the governor of West Virginia declared the second Sunday in May to be Mother's Day. The tradition spread throughout the United States and in 1914 U.S. President. Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.
This tradition came to Japan sometime during Meiji period.
In Japan, people usually give red or pink carnations to mothers to thank their everyday’s hard work.
At preschools, Japanese children would be making origami carnation for Mother's Day. Here is one example of how to make one.
How to Make Origami Carnation
In our Kids class, children made Ikebana (fresh flower arrangement) for their mums.
「お母さん、いつもありがとう」
‘Mum、Thank you always.’
The Brisbane Japanese Language and Culture School www.brisbanejapaneseschool.com