Easter Corsage
Posted by jem20776@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 32 comments
One of my most distinct memories of Easter as a child is that my mother and grandmother were always gifted Easter corsages to wear on Easter day. This doesn't seem to be common anymore. Did this just fall off or was this a less common tradition than I remember and more isolated to my family? Did the ladies in your family wear Easter corsages or do they still? Seems like a lovely alternative to candy :)
greenjean3@reddit
Nope. Never. That seems weird. Even from Catholics
Altruistic_Relief189@reddit
Yeah, we used to do this when we went to church in Easter. We don't do that anymore. My sister does try and give all the moms and aunts lillies or something like that now.
Secure-Letterhead-58@reddit
And kept them in the refrigerator until Sunday.
Grouchy_Barnacle_873@reddit
Memory unlocked! I had completely forgotten about this. My dad got all the ladies in the family corsages to wear. He also got us corsages on St. Patrick's day.
Fluffy-Inspector1990@reddit
Me too! I completely forgot my dad used to get us corsages to wear for Easter. I was such a tomboy I was mortified to have to wear it to church.
No-Conference-3306@reddit
I remember them for Mother's Day. # of orchids for # of kids I think? And bow up or down based on whether or not own mother still living.
CobblerCandid998@reddit
Being born in 1975, I remember corsages from the late 70s-early 80s. Times were simpler and society concentrated on celebrating the little things and making life pretty. It seems ugliness and the rat race took over. People decided making their children popular superstars through sports and extracurricular activities were more important than simple pleasures in life. It’s extremely sad and depressing that we’ve become a society of greed.
I watched a couple of YouTube clips yesterday of old time 40s and 50s Easter crowds going to or from church. It brought tears to my eyes of how neat, tidy, and polite people used to be compared to now. I wonder, how is becoming selfish slobs progress? What was so bad about yesteryear that we had to abandon all that was lovely and replace it with negativity and meanness? 😔
https://youtu.be/81qd0RNHIRc?si=WliZhTmFABd6n7Wj
https://youtu.be/HPYb-rV0Ca4?si=_hFfnZeeaQB_CSYp
xpunkrockmomx@reddit
This sounds like something that wasn't happening in our home. At mother's day, they did have a small corsage at the church for the ladies that wanted one.
ancientastronaut2@reddit
Yeah we used to do this to wear to church on easter, but at some point the tradition fell off for us.
SpreadsheetSiren@reddit
It was done, but my mother and I did not because most of Easter Sunday morning was spent in choir vestments. In my early teens I asked why we spent money on a fancier dress if nobody was going to see it? I guess it was for the snapshots taken when we got home that, again, nobody ever saw. 🙄 And of course, the second the pictures were done it was, “Go take that off and hang it up and put on your play clothes (Mom-speak for jeans and a t-shirt) and come peel potatoes.”
I still sing in a choir and I don’t bother with getting “dressed up” for Christmas or Easter. Again, nobody’s going to see it.
Catfiche1970@reddit
In the 70s, yes. Corsages were popular for Easter, also wristlets! Mom, grandma, great grandma, little me. ❤️
tandem_kayak@reddit
That is interesting, I never heard of that, but then we were not church goers. No need for corsages if you weren't going out to show them off.
Independent-Dark-955@reddit
I had totally forgotten about this. Yes, this was common as a kid and I never see it anymore.
judithsparky@reddit
Just about to say the same thing! And my sister and I got little ones. The florist had them.
Important-Round-9098@reddit
My dad would always buy my mother and Easter Corsage.
theghostofcslewis@reddit
It was part of the "No Fatties" campaign.
LayerNo3634@reddit
Yes. When I became a teen, my mom decided I had to wear one too. Absolutely hated it. When daughter got married I told her no corsage. I know a lot of people like them, but I didn't like being forced to wear one.
fireflypoet@reddit
I only remember Mother's Day flowers. You were to wear a red carnation if your mother was alive and a white one if she was dead.
pdperson@reddit
Yes! I’d completely forgotten but we’d all have orchids.
ImColdandImTired@reddit
We did. I remember feeling so grown up the year I was 10, and my dad had me call the florist and order corsages for my mom and grandma.
Then it all went downhill. Florist asked, “Red or white carnations?” assuming I knew the significance. I said white for both, thinking that would match with whatever outfit they chose.
Their faces when they opened the package and saw two white carnation bouquets…. 😨🤦🏻♀️
Mama ended up finding some red spray paint and painting hers.
(For anyone else reading who might not be aware of the meaning - white carnations are for mothers whose own mother is not longer living, red for those whose mother is still alive).
Ok_Driver_6895@reddit
I didn't know that! We always bought orchid corsages for my grandmothers, though. I wonder if that had a meaning? I always just thought they were pretty. lol
Baebarri@reddit
The orchids had a similar correlation, I believe white was for a deceased mother and purple for living.
My mom always got a purple orchid corsage for Mother's Day and my grandmother got a white one.
Ok_Driver_6895@reddit
Oh, that's good to know. We always got purple for my maternal grandmother and her mother was living, so that makes sense now. I guess I just always thought she liked purple.
Normal-Philosopher-8@reddit
This was the case in our house for Mother’s Day, but I don’t remember Easter corsages being red at all - more in line with pastels.
Hot-Freedom-5886@reddit
We used to have corsages for Christmas and Easter. My mom had one for Mother’s Day, of course. I have no idea where they would have been purchased.
Hot-Freedom-5886@reddit
We used to have corsages for Christmas and Easter. My mom had one for Mother’s Day, of course. I have no idea where they would have been purchased.
StephieBelle@reddit
Thought about that this morning while getting ready for church! My dad always had me, my sister and mom an Easter corsage and mom always got one for Mother’s Day too!
Smart_Map25@reddit
Totally forgot about the corsages! I think my dad might have gotten one for my mom a few times. Mostly I recall the painful elastic under my chin from the Easter bonnet.
Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit
Now that you mention it, I do remember my dad getting corsages for my mom and grandma.
Lil_Afternoon_Delite@reddit
My dad would always get me my mom and my sister corsages- I loved the smell of the carnation ones.
NewLouisa@reddit
My grandmother would always have an Easter corsage and a beautiful hat with a matching suit. I used to wear a dress, hat, a white gloves to church on Easter when I was a little kid in the seventies. I’m wearing black pants and a black shirt to Mass today. I look like a waiter 😂😭😂
jem20776@reddit (OP)
Aw, I used to love my fresh spring Easter dresses!