You know the drill when the second Sunday in May is right around the corner. Panic sets in, and you’re suddenly thinking about what to give to your beautiful mother, who raised and took care of you.
You can stare at the sea of gift options, but we know that you’ll go back to giving flowers because this gift never gets old. It is not because florists have a killer marketing style, but it is because handing her a beautiful bouquet hits her brain differently. Of course, you can pair bouquets with different gift options to amp up your present.
So, without further ado, let’s unpack the psychology behind giving flowers on Mother’s Day!
It All Started From One Woman’s Grief
Before the overpriced cards, gifts, and brunch reservations, Mother’s Day started as a genuine, heartfelt, and meaningful movement. Believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Hallmark. It just showed up years later and handed it a price tag.
It all began when Anna Jarvis, who lost her mother, decided to honor her by delegating a day in her memory. She organized a memorial service and handed out her late mother’s favorite white carnations. Why carnations? What do they symbolize? These blooms are an emblem of faith, purity, and love. These blooms showcase unadulterated affection, and that’s what Anna wanted, i.e., to keep things simple, genuine, and heartfelt.
However, President Woodrow Wilson made this day official, and Jarvis hated it and fought against the commercialization of white carnations. But, this tradition stuck like glue and didn’t budge.
Fast-forward to today, Mother’s Day is still the most popular holiday, and flowers like lilies, peonies, roses, daisies, and carnations, as a Mother’s Day gift, still dominate.
The Plot Twist You Needed: Flowers Trigger Positive Emotions
Flowers don’t just look pretty; they spread their pollen, bright colors, nectar, and sweet scents for animals and birds. However, flowers have hacked humans emotionally. These blooms trigger positive emotions and joy more than any other thing.
However, according to psychologists, flowers are not only for mere decoration; they are the reason for inducing joy, reducing depression, anxiety, and agitation, and making life worth living. Plus, flowers are like antidepressant pills, kind of like nature’s Prozac, excluding the possible side effects.
Moreover, since motherhood is all about nurturing life, giving flowers to mothers is a beautiful reminder to us about their gentle, steady care that nurtured us into something incredible.
How Flowers Alter Brain Chemistry (Of Course, in a Good Way)
Flowers are nature’s mood upgrade; you don’t need prescriptions plus zilch side effects. They just deliver pure joy by making you feel extra special and good. As mentioned earlier, flowers trigger happy emotions and affect social behavior positively. They make people more energetic and less depressed.
According to SAF (Society of American Florists), giving flowers doesn’t only makes someone’s day, but it sends a powerful unspoken message; that you care, pay attention, are emotionally intelligent, and understand people on a different level. Plus, the gesture of giving flowers makes you more kind and successful.
If you want to know how it works, let’s get into the details of neurotransmitters. So your brain produces happy hormones when you receive something beautiful. When mothers see fresh, vibrant blooms, dopamine is released that lights up their brain like Christmas lights. It is an instant mood lifter that gives mothers instant happiness.
Next, the warm, fuzzy hormone oxytocin makes mothers want to hug the person who gave them flowers. Your genuine act of care can instigate warm feelings and happy tears.
So now you know why it feels good to give flowers to your mother and make her happy!
Flowers Beat Other Gifts
Yes! That’s true. Flowers on Mother’s Day beat other kinds of gifts because they are the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Women love receiving flowers as it makes them feel special. What’s more, dopamine and oxytocin tag-team in your mother’s brain and make her extra soft and loving, hence strengthening your bond with her.
What else? Flowers steal words. They convey your thoughts and feelings while your words fail. In addition, since moms don’t like clutter, this gift gives the most aesthetic appeal without any clutter.
A Wrap Up
Flowers on Mother’s Day are not cliche, it is the perfect and clever gift that makes her feel worthy. Your gratitude becomes visible, love becomes more fragrant, and your loud ‘thank you’ to the woman who raised you makes her feel cherished.
So pick a bouquet that matches her personality and is her favorite because science confirms that vibrant, fragrant blooms trigger happiness.