Flowers for Mothering Sunday

• Give your mother pansies or another type of violet for Mothering Sunday. Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  Mothering Sunday is a holiday that originated in England during the 1600s to celebrate the Virgin Mary. In the present day United Kingdom, it is a day to celebrate mothers. Baked goods, such as simnel cakes and flowers, are examples of traditional gifts. Select a symbolic flower for your mother to celebrate Mothering Day, the fourth Sunday of Lent.

Violets

• Children would pick wild violets for their mothers for Mothering Sunday. One common violet species associated with the holiday is known as heartsease in England and Johny Jump-Ups in the U.S. (Viola tricolor). Each heartsease flower has five petals that are purple and yellow with a slight tinge of orange. Other varieties exist with different color schemes, such as dark purple with white and yellow and pink with lavender and yellow. Pansy violets (Viola x wittrockiana) are another option. Choose from a broad color spectrum, from purple, blue, red, yellow, white, apricot, bicolors and tricolors.

Chrysanthemums

• Chrysanthemums, nicknamed "mums," are a common choice for mother's gifts in the United States and the U.K. With hundreds of species to choose from, you can pick a color and shape that suits your mom's style. There's the flat-faced, white-petaled daisy, the bulbous-shaped, bright yellow tansy, the bright red, star-shaped 'Dark Triumph' cultivar and many more to choose from.

Roses

• For the Catholic faith, Mothering Sunday was sometimes referred to as Rose Sunday since the pope traditionally carried a golden rose on that day. For a mother who likes roses, indulge her on this holiday. Consider the symbolism when selecting a rose color. For example, give your mother a yellow rose to show her you consider her to be a close friend in addition to being a mom--yellow represents joy and friendship. Orange symbolizes enthusiasm, red signifies respect and dark pink embodies gratitude.

Wild Flowers

• Go back in time and practice a traditional Mothering Sunday act. Collect flowers from your garden, a nearby meadow or along the roadside. Either pick them ahead of time or on your way to see your mother. She will appreciate the personal touch of collecting the flowers yourself rather than having a florist do all the work.