As Mother's Day approaches, which falls on the second Sunday of May every year, carnations, colorful flowers, and gifts line the shelves of stores. It's an important day to express our gratitude in tangible ways. But why did this day originate, and why is there a custom of giving flowers? This time, we will explore these simple questions while introducing Mother's Day customs around the world and the latest popular gifts.
Born in America, from the thoughts of one woman.
The origins of Mother's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century in the United States.
In 1907, Anna Jarvis, a woman who distributed white carnations in church to commemorate her deceased mother, strongly advocated for the establishment of a memorial day, believing that "gratitude to mothers should be expressed while they are still alive." Her sentiment spread, and in 1914, the United States Congress officially designated the second Sunday of May as "Mother's Day."
This movement spread throughout the world, and in Japan, following the example of the United States after the war, this day became established as Mother's Day.
How is it celebrated around the world?
Mother's Day exists in many countries around the world, but the way it is celebrated varies greatly from country to country.
For example, in the UK, "Mothers' Day" is celebrated three weeks before Easter, and it is a tradition for families to go to church together and express gratitude to their mothers. In Thailand, August 12th, the Queen's birthday, is celebrated nationwide as Mother's Day. Also, in South Korea, May 8th is "Parents' Day," and there is a custom of expressing gratitude to both mother and father.
As you can see, although the forms may differ depending on the country and culture, the sentiment of "a day to express gratitude to parents" seems to be common worldwide.
Why do people give carnations?
When it comes to Mother's Day, carnations are the quintessential flower. This tradition originates from Anna Jarvis, who placed white carnations, her mother's favorite flower, on her mother's altar. In the United States, there's a custom of giving red carnations to living mothers and white carnations to deceased mothers, but in Japan, red carnations are most common.
Recently, people have been choosing carnations in a variety of colors, such as pink and orange, as well as other flowers like gerberas and roses, to suit their preferences.
The popularity of these flowers is also influenced to some extent by the marketing strategies of the flower industry. Since the early Showa period, flower shops across the country have been promoting Mother's Day, and now the image of "Mother's Day = flowers" has become firmly established.
What is the market size?
While there aren't any precise statistics available for 2024 regarding the market size of Mother's Day, it's estimated to be around 120 billion yen. The sales of flower gifts alone are estimated to exceed 40 to 50 billion yen annually, making it a major commercial event for department stores and online shops alike.
During this time, the demand for sweets, miscellaneous goods, and cosmetics also increases, and each company is putting their ingenuity into Mother's Day limited sets and wrapping.
What are the popular gifts lately? Pay attention to art gifts, too.
In addition to the classic carnation, recently popular items include sweets and high-end fruits ordered online, relaxation goods, and miscellaneous items such as aprons and hand creams. Furthermore, the style of "giving experiences" as gifts, such as travel vouchers or spa tickets, is also gaining popularity.
Among these, art gifts have been steadily gaining popularity in recent years.
More and more people are giving art posters or small pieces of art that can be displayed in the room as gifts to their mothers who like interior design, and in particular, paintings with flower motifs or abstract paintings that blend in with the interior are being chosen.
There are many comments such as "Displaying art brightens my mood" and "I'm happy because it's something I wouldn't choose myself," and art is attracting attention as a new form of gift.
Giving thanks a tangible form.
Mother's Day is an important day once a year when you can formally express your gratitude.
Whether it's flowers, art, sweets, or a letter—what matters is choosing something with your heart.
The thoughts and feelings put into each and every one of them are warmer than anything else, and they will surely reach your mother's heart.
This time, I referred to information from various websites.
- Anniversary Lab: "The Origins and Market Size of Mother's Day"
https://www.kinenbilabo.jp/?p=756 - Hibiya Kadan: "Regarding the shipment volume and industry trends of Mother's Day flowers"
https://hibiya-ca.co.jp/blog/blog-672/ - Money Forward Media: "Trends and Market Changes in Mother's Day Gifts"
https://media.moneyforward.com/articles/1494 - PR TIMES (Gift Mall Survey): "Changes in Mother's Day Gifts During the COVID-19 Pandemic"
Here's the translated text from the provided URL: "This page is not available in English." - Rakuten Market "Mother's Day Gift Ranking"
https://event.rakuten.co.jp/mother/special/ranking/ - Mother's Day.me "2025 Mother's Day Survey"
https://hahanohi.me/mothersday/giftconscious/ - Nihon Nougyo Shimbun (Japan Agricultural News): "Trends in Flowers and Fruits during Mother's Day Sales"
https://www.agrinews.co.jp/economy/index/231414 - Japan Commemorative Day Association: "Establishment and Background of Commemorative Days"
I cannot translate this. This is a URL for a Japanese website, and translating it would be meaningless. The URL likely points to a user profile or page on the website.
- Giftmall "Mother's Day Gift Popularity Ranking"
https://giftmall.co.jp/mothersday/
