January 13, 2021
National Daisy Day
January doesn’t have to be a cold and dreary month—on the 28th of every January, you can celebrate National Daisy Day! The beautiful daisy goes back thousands of years, and although it may seem like an ordinary flower, it holds many special meanings worth celebrating.
Native to Northern Europe and now found throughout North America, Australia, Africa, and South America, daisies find themselves in bouquets and homes across the world. What makes daisies so special is that they can be found in a wide range of elegant colors, allowing them to match the theme of any occasion or room.
And even though daisies are technically a member of the weed family, they boast beautiful blooms in various hues that make them deserving of their own special day. As you can tell, this post is going to be all about daisies. As you get ready to celebrate National Daisy Day, read this guide to learn about this special day’s history, how to celebrate, and much more.
National Daisy Day History
The exact origins of National Daisy Day continue to be a mystery—no one really knows who founded it and why. However, there is some speculation that National Daisy Day came about thanks to the greeting card industry as a way to boost sales with a new line of holiday cards.
While the origins remain a mystery, National Daisy Day is still a day worth marking on your calendar. On this day in January, celebrants acknowledge the beauty of the daisy. This holiday is purely for fun and can be celebrated in any way, such as sending daisies to a loved one or decorating your home with daisies.
No matter how you plan to celebrate National Daisy Day, it serves as a great excuse to gather with your loved ones around an elegant bouquet filled with daisies. For all the flower lovers out there, National Daisy Day isn’t the only national holiday for a flower. Other flower holidays you can celebrate throughout the year include:
National Carnation Day: January 29
National Primrose Day: February 5
National Flower Day: March 21
National Orchid Day: April 16
National Herb Day: May 2
National Red Rose Day: June 12
National Daffodil Day: August 28
As you can see, if you’re a flower lover, you’re sure to find a special day that commemorates some of your favorite blooms throughout the entire year.
Daisy History
As you begin to celebrate National Daisy Day, knowing the history of the flower itself can impress those celebrating with you. The word daisy comes from an Old English word for “day’s eye”, the reason being that daisy petals open at dawn and close at dusk, much like our eyes when we wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night. In England, daisies are often referred to as bruisewort. If you were to get injured, the crushed leaves were traditionally used to alleviate a bruise’s symptoms.
The daisy was classified in 1792 by German botanist Paul Dietrich Giseke, who placed them in the Compositae family (also called the Asteraceae family). However, scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew found daisy pollen grains embedded in fossils from over 20 million years ago, which means even dinosaurs were graced with their natural beauty. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew also states that the daisy family is one of the largest plant families, with over 1,600 genera and 23,000 species.
While there are various genera that daisies fall under, meaning they can have different shapes, sizes, and colors, most typically consist of 15 to 30 petals surrounding a yellow disk. Some of the most common daisy genera include the Oxeye daisy, Gerbera daisy, and the English daisy.
As you now know, daisies are known for their beautiful blooms and elegant look. However, these looks can be deceiving. The daisy is actually considered a weed. This is because they are often found on lawns and are invasive in most places. But this doesn’t mean people want away with this special flower. Daisies are commonly found in gardens, flower beds, and even bouquets.
Daisy Symbolism
Daisies are loved by people all over because they symbolize innocence and purity. According to Celtic legend, God sprinkled daisies over the earth to cheer parents up whenever an infant passed. This led to daisies symbolizing childbirth, motherhood, and new beginnings.
Daisies also symbolize true love. This is because daisies are actually composed of two flowers: the inner section, called the disc floret, is typically yellow, while the outer flowers, called the ray florets, are usually white. Together, they intertwine to create a beautiful bloom that resembles love and affection.
How to Take Care of Daisies
If you’re planning on celebrating National Daisy Day, you may be wondering how to care for gerbera daisies, or any species of daisy, for that matter. Fortunately, you don’t need a green thumb to keep your daisies in pristine condition, as they’re relatively easy to care for. Our daisy care tips go as follows:
Sunlight:
Daisies love the sun. With that said, allow your daisies to get adequate exposure to the morning sun, and give them a break in the afternoon with some shade. For indoor daisies, make sure to place them by a window. For outdoor daisies, keep track of sunlight patterns throughout the day and find an area that gets plenty of morning sun.
Water:
Daisies’ roots grow deep into the ground, which means they need plenty of water to stay healthy. Whether they’re potted or planted in the ground, give them a deep water once a week — water enough so that it seeps down at least eight inches into the soil. For clippings, make sure you change the water in your vase at least twice a week to prevent bacteria from growing.
Temperature:
Daisies are pretty strong flowers. While they prefer temperatures between 70ºF and 75ºF, they can manage temperatures as low as 40ºF. Daisies are a frost-tender perennial, which means they can tolerate temperatures as low as 30ºF, but frost can cause damage.
When Is National Daisy Day?
National Daisy Day falls on January 28 every year. However, make sure not to confuse National Daisy Day with National Upsy Daisy Day, which falls on June 8. National Upsy Daisy Day encourages people to wake up in the morning feeling grateful and ready to start the day on a positive note. Stephanie West Allen founded this day in 2003 to make humor and positivity an element of National Upsy Daisy Day.
Even though January tends to be one of the colder months throughout the year, you can bring warmth to any home with freshly cut daisies. While you might not be able to find daisies in your backyard due to snow or frigid temperatures, you can order daisies online from a local florist. At Proflowers, our daisy bouquets always arrive fast and fresh, so you can celebrate with vibrant blooms on this national holiday.
How to Celebrate National Daisy Day
Now it’s time to get to the fun part—celebrating National Daisy Day! Celebrating a flower might seem unconventional, but it can be a great way to spend time with friends and family in a new way. If you don’t know where to get started, you’re not alone. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best ways you can celebrate the day of the daisy:
Go daisy picking: Daisies are loved by many because they’re so easy to find. No matter where you live, you can most likely come across a field with some daisies dotting the landscape. Grab a few friends, some shears, and a basket, and you’ll be good to go! Just make sure you’re not trespassing on private property or disrupting any natural habitats during the process. Once you’re home, place them in a vase or arrange them in a bouquet.
Dry your daisies: Drying flowers is an easy way to liven up any space, and they’re great for creating a rustic look for various projects. To start off, dry your daisies by hanging them upside down in a dark area, such as a closet, for a few weeks. Or, you can dry them using silica gel or pressing them with a flower press. Once they’re dried, your options are endless. You can encase them in epoxy resin to make unique coasters for your coffee table, press them into picture frames for a gallery wall, or simply leave them in a vase by your bedside.
Create a daisy chain: Creating daisy chains is an excellent way to celebrate National Daisy Day. Daisy chains are just what they sound like—a chain of daisies tied together. To create a daisy chain, simply tie the stems of each daisy together. The final product will create simple, elegant necklaces and bracelets.
Craft your own flower crown: Channel your inner ‘60s vibes by creating a daisy flower crown. Flower crowns are similar to daisy chains, but take things to the next level. To create a daisy flower crown, gather a piece of wire that measures the circumference of your head. Then, grab your daisies and any other flowers you may have picked up along the way and gently attach each flower to the wire using floral tape. Once it’s nice and full, you’ll have a beautiful headpiece to accompany any outfit.
Organize a local parade: If you want to go big on National Daisy Day, consider organizing your own local parade. Parades are perfect for building a sense of community and bringing people together. Your daisy parade can have a pageant for Mr. and Mrs. Daisy, who can ride the front float, have local school bands perform their favorite tunes, and local florists showcase their blooms. You can even turn your daisy parade into a daisy weekend with a local 5k road race, community events at local parks, and much more. With some creativity, you can turn National Daisy Day into a local tradition your entire community looks forward to every year.
Dye your daisies: Daisies are typically white, and this makes it extremely easy to alter the color of their petals. With some color dye, you can easily turn your daisies into a colorful floral arrangement. To dye your daisies, fill a cup halfway with water. Then, add food coloring in the color of your choice and place the daisies inside. Over the next few hours and days, observe your daisies’ petals, and you’ll see a drastic color change!
Throw a daisy party: Everyone loves a party, and National Daisy Day is the perfect way to bring people together in the midst of January. To host a memorable daisy party, decorate your home with various daisy floral arrangements. You can even have guests bring clippings of their favorite daisies to show off. Pair that with some delicious treats and eats, and your daisy party will be a hit.
Cook with daisies: Believe it or not, daisies are actually edible and perfectly fine to eat. Daisies not only add a unique flavor to any meal or treat, but they can make any dish look like it belongs in a 5-star restaurant. From salads to cakes and soups to smoothies, adding daisies to your meals on National Daisy Day is an excellent way to celebrate this flower. Just make sure your daisies don’t contain any pesticides or harmful chemicals on them before eating. Additionally, you should never pick daisies from the side of the road and eat them—always purchase edible organic daisies from a reputable source.
As you can tell, there are plenty of ways you can celebrate National Daisy Day. With a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, you can find unique and memorable ways to celebrate this holiday that you will cherish for years to come.
Wrapping Up
National Daisy Day is a special day dedicated to the beautiful daisy. It falls on January 28 every year and is a perfect opportunity to celebrate feelings of warmth, innocence, and love. While this national holiday might not be on everyone’s radar, it’s a great way to bring friends and family together to celebrate something special. No matter how you plan on spending National Daisy Day, whether it’s building daisy chains or organizing a daisy parade, allow yourself to take a step back and enjoy the day.
Celebrate National Daisy Day and any other special occasions with a beautiful daisy floral arrangement, curated by our team of experienced florists at Proflowers.