Red Carnations . . . White Carnations

It's Mother's Day

And when I think of Mother's Day

I think of carnations

red and white carnations

For as a child, Mother's Day

was a florist's holiday

Not only bouquets from Father to Mother

But buttoners and corsages

To wear in honor of your Mother

Either red ones or white ones

Alas, no pink or orange or gold

Just red or white

Everyone at church on Sunday

Children as well as adults

had either a buttoner or a corsage

in either red or white

And almost all were carnations.

Of course, in those days one dressed for church

Men (and even little boys) wore suits

While women and girls were dressed in dresses, hats and gloves.

A corsage or buttoner was appropriate!

The corsages and buttoners were a symbolic remembrance

of your mother

You wore red if your mother was living

You wore white if your mother was not.

Mother, my younger brother and myself all wore red

While my father wore white

(having lost his mother the year after I was born)

The wearing of carnations was a nice Mother's Day tradition

And a great way to honor your mother.

And at a glance, you knew whose mother was living or not.

Alas, it's a tradition that's went out of favor

As a child it made you feel special

to have your own corsage . . . you felt so grown up!

If the tradition had continued,

tomorrow I would wear

It would be a great way to honor my dear mother!

I'm joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.