THE HISTORY OF MOTHER’S DAY CARNATIONS

Why the carnation?

MS Society supporters often ask, “Why the carnation?” The link between Carnations and Mother’s Day is a long one – even longer than the 33 years of the MS Carnation Campaign! The significance of this hardy flower remains an integral part of Mother’s Day as well as of the fight to end multiple sclerosis.

The beginnings of Mother’s Day

The official observance of Mother’s Day in its present form is credited to Ann Jarvis, whose daughter Anna founded the holiday in tribute to her mother. It had been Ann’s wish that someone would one day establish a memorial day to honour all mothers. Following her mother’s death, Anna worked tirelessly to establish Mother’s Day as a national holiday.

The first official Mother’s Day service took place on May 10, 1908, at a church in Grafton, West Virginia where Ann had worshipped. Anna sent 500 white carnations to the church to be worn by the congregation, feeling that these flowers in particular typified the purity, strength, and endurance of motherhood.

Just one year later, almost all of North America observed the day with appropriate services and by wearing white and red carnations. Carnations – red for a mother who is living and white for deceased – are now worn worldwide as emblems of motherhood.

“The power of the flower” - Carnations to help end MS

When the MS Carnation Campaign began in May 1976, carnations would also become a symbol of hope for people with multiple sclerosis. Hope in the form of new MS treatments that can modify the course of the disease. Hope provided through services to people with MS and their families. And hope that the funds and awareness raised by the MS Carnation Campaign will one day mean a future when no one need ever be told, “You have multiple sclerosis.”

Thank you to all who are using the “power of the flower” to help end MS!