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A Red Carnation

May 10, 2008 By Marta Darby 19 Comments

 

 Luza, my mom.

She was twenty-five when she got married.

She was twenty-six when she became a mother.

She was forty-one when she gave birth to me, the youngest of her six children.

She was forty-seven when she found herself exiled in a new and foreign country.

She was fifty when she became a grandmother.

She was eighty-five when she became a widow.

She was eighty-six when she became a great-grandmother.

She turned one-hundred-two this year.

So much life….

My family continues the Cuban tradition of wearing carnations on Mother’s Day. A red carnation if your mother is still alive and a white one if she is not.

My indomitable mother is still making plans every day. Por si las moscas.

At one-hundred-two, she is most definitely ALIVE.

I will very gratefully and with great pride be wearing my red carnation on Mother’s Day this year.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Cuban Americans. versions 2.0 and 3.0 A Big, Fat, Cuban Family Mother’s Day The Good Mother Apio Verde

Filed Under: Celebrate, Cuban-American Life, Mother's Day, My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Tagged With: celebrate, Mother's Day

Previous Post: « Without the CAT
Next Post: The Good Mother »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kikita says

    May 11, 2008 at 12:00 am

    Nathan,A friend of mine asked her that last year, she said, “Ay que reir cada dia.” (Or something to that effect. Laughing and Smiling, that’s the key)
    😉

    Reply
  2. Nathan says

    May 11, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Wow I hope I can live as long as your mother has.What’s your mother’s secret to longevity?
    I would love to know and if it’s eating delicious Cuban food everyday I’m so gonna do that lol.

    Reply
  3. mario says

    May 11, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    She is beautiful too! Continued health and long life!

    Reply
  4. Isabel says

    May 6, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    I’m so happy that you’ll be wearing a red carnation! Your Mama sounds like a treasure!I’ll be wearing a white carnation….words can’t describe how much i miss my Mama. 🙁

    Reply
  5. Maria Soto Robbins says

    May 7, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Felicidades, Marta! To you and your beautiful mom. Enjoy that lovely tradition of the red carnation…you’re very blessed!

    Reply
  6. Isabel Yazigi says

    May 5, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Felicidades!!! Such an inspiration!!! May she have many wonderful years!!! Besos!!!

    Reply
  7. Lisann says

    April 28, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    Awwwwww! I just love this chica. Bendiciones para ti y para tu mamita linda. ????

    Reply
  8. Louise says

    April 28, 2016 at 3:03 pm

    ❤️

    Reply
  9. Betty Abello says

    April 28, 2016 at 4:18 pm

    Congratulations! You are truly blessed!

    Reply
  10. Maria I Sanchez says

    April 28, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    Una linda tradicion de Cuba Disfrutala y quierela mucho a tu mami Cuanto diera por usar este dia de Mother’s Day una flor roja este año Desde q la mia partio ese dia es muy doloroso ????

    Reply
  11. Barbie Vazquez says

    April 28, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    Congratulations you are very blessed to have her here with you! I will wear a white carnation for my beautiful Mom now in haven!!!

    Reply
  12. Ileana says

    April 28, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    I grew up wearing my red carnation on mother’s day. I lost mami in 1996. I enjoy my 2 daughters el día de las madres, pero como me hace falta mami. Que Dios te cuide tu madre tan linda. God bless

    Reply
  13. Regina says

    April 29, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    Bella mi tía. Le llevo la foto a mami. Me encantó hablar contigo. Abrazos al resto de la Big family.

    Reply
  14. Carmen Alvarez says

    May 6, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    Thank you for listing this write up, my mom passed away in 2008 we still have that tradición , thank you for reminding me of our beautiful traditions.Carmen

    Reply
  15. Miriam Spencer says

    May 7, 2016 at 12:50 am

    Yes! My mother passed three months ago.I will be wearing my white carnation for the first time this Sunday.I’m blesses by you, your blog and your writings.Happy Mother’s Day!

    Reply
  16. Iris Gato says

    May 7, 2016 at 4:59 pm

    Happy Mothers Day ????Keep writing, I love it.

    Reply
  17. Estrella says

    May 8, 2016 at 4:03 am

    Thanks for your stories!!! This year, I will be wearing a white carnation since my mother passed on 2/20/16. Your stories are very much a part of all of our lives and for that I thank you!!

    Reply
  18. Cuqui Tojeiro says

    May 9, 2016 at 1:54 am

    I also explained to my daughters (bien here), and when they were Small, no mothers day we Dressed With similar outfits, like i usted to do With my Mom in Cuba and wore The carnations too. Beautiful and thoughtful customs.

    Reply
  19. Iskra says

    May 12, 2018 at 7:30 am

    This year I will be wearing a white carnation. We lost our Mami on March 22. God Bless you and your’s. I wish you many more years with her! I love seeing your posts and the memories they bring back of my childhood. My little sister was my Mami’s sixth child and she had her when she was 41, just like your’s 😊. Happy Mother’s Day 💐

    Reply

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