What is the biggest holiday of the year for florists in this country?

While red roses and heart-shaped boxes may dominate February, it's a celebration in May that represents the single biggest sales event for the floral industry. The reason for its dominance is simple demographics. Unlike Valentine's Day, which is primarily for romantic partners, this holiday inspires a much broader range of people to buy flowers for mothers, grandmothers, wives, aunts, and other maternal figures. This widespread tradition of honoring mothers with bouquets accounts for roughly a quarter of all flowers sold for holidays throughout the year.

The holiday's deep connection to flowers is rooted in its very origins. Founder Anna (Review) Jarvis established the tradition in the early 20th century and chose her own mother's favorite flower, the white carnation, as its official symbol. She handed out hundreds of them at the first celebrations to honor the purity of a mother's love.

Ironically, Jarvis came to resent the commercialization of the day she worked so hard to create. She spent the rest of her life fighting against the floral