Community Connection ~ May 10, 2026: A Mother's Day Bouquet

On special days like this, we often explore the history of the day itself. Having already delved into both Mother’s Day and Mothering Day, we thought this year we’d share some of the connections between the month of May itself and the holiday we observe on the second Sunday of the month.

May is named for the Roman goddess Maia, who was associated with spring, growth, warmth, and fertility. She was sometimes portrayed holding a caduceus, a staff with two snakes entwined around it and a pair of wings at the top, which due to its similarity to the rod of Asclepius, the Greco-Roman god of medicine, is often used in medical contexts, linking Maia to healing as well. It makes sense that her month is the one in which the earth flourishes, with her warmth (coupled with the warmth from her husband, Vulcan, the god of fire) bringing life to the fields each spring. Read more about Maia here.

It can’t be a coincidence that this is the month in which we honor those who keep us warm, heal us, and help us grow and blossom, can it? Well, it is! Mother’s Day as we know it today is due in large part to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, and she anchored it in May because that was the memorial month of her own mother, Ann. That said, perhaps this particular coincidence transcends mere coincidence; the connections between Maia, May, and mothering are more than the sum of their parts. It certainly adds a deeper layer of meaning to the ubiquity of flowers as a Mother’s Day gift!

In that vein, we invite you to make some beautiful flowers for the mother figures in your life. You can use this simple tutorial to make delicate tissue paper dahlias. All you need is tissue paper, pipe cleaners, and a pair of scissors. If you need supplies, come visit the Sunday School classroom and snag some to take home, today, tomorrow, or even next month. After all, while Mother’s Day comes just once a year, it’s always the right time to honor the power of growth and blossoming!