| Do you have a father, mother, sister or friend? Then | | | | - Flower deliveries. Buy fresh daffodils and |
| it's likely that Daffodil Day is for you. | | | | merchandise directly from volunteer stalls in shopping |
| What is Daffodil Day? It is a bright and positive day | | | | centres, railway stations, etc. |
| to support those touched by cancer. A day to focus | | | | - Volunteer your time on a stall selling flowers. |
| on our belief for a cancer-free future. Held yearly in | | | | - Purchase Daffodil Day merchandise during the |
| seven countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, | | | | month or make a donation to your Cancer Charity |
| New Zealand, USA, UK), it raises funds for cancer | | | | - Order a Daffodil Day Box to sell yourself in your |
| research into cancer prevention, education and | | | | workplace, school, etc. |
| patient support. | | | | - Fundraise in any way you please -- create your |
| Why Daffodils? As most types bloom at the very | | | | own "Yellow" event such as dress yellow day, wear |
| end of winter, daffodils have a reputation as a robust | | | | a daffodil flower day, raffle, etc. |
| flower pushing its way through the harshness of | | | | - Contact your Cancer Charity for specific ways you |
| winter heralding Spring -- a new life, vitality, growth. | | | | can help, including flower deliveries. |
| Cancer Charities use the daffodil as the international | | | | The Daffodil Flower |
| symbol of hope for all affected, directly and | | | | The genus Narcissus includes daffodils, narcissus and |
| indirectly, by cancer -- survivors, patients, family and | | | | jonquils. There are at least 50 species plus thousands |
| friends. | | | | of hybrids. All daffodils have a trumpet in the centre |
| Consequently, Daffodil Days are held on different | | | | and a ring of petals around it. Mainly yellow but are |
| days in different countries. In Canada, it is held on | | | | also available in hues from yellow and white to |
| four consecutive days in April while in Australia, it falls | | | | orange and pink and brilliant red. |
| on the 4th Friday of August -- August 27, this year! | | | | Daffodils are the national flower of Wales where it is |
| History of Daffodil Days. The first Daffodil Day can | | | | traditional to wear one on St David's Day. Probably |
| be traced back to 1957 when Fran Shannon, a | | | | why it has been suggested that "daffodil" comes |
| Toronto volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society, | | | | from "Dafydd", a Welsh form of "David". |
| started raising funds by having daffodil flower | | | | Whether it is on Daffodil Day or any other day, |
| deliveries from restaurants and hotels who sold them | | | | these cheerful flowers are great as a gift. Flower |
| to their own clients. Three years later, the volunteers | | | | deliveries of daffodils may have two meanings. Like |
| started selling daffodils themselves. In 1961, several | | | | the god Narcissus, daffodils may mean vanity, |
| volunteers organised the first Daffodil Day in | | | | strongly sending the message that the receiver |
| Montreal. Gradually, it spread throughout Quebec. | | | | needs a change in demeanor. They may also mean |
| Daffodil Day began in Australia in 1986 but it was only | | | | rebirth. A person in the midst of a new start is a |
| in 1992 when it was officially established as an annual | | | | good recipient for flower deliveries of daffodils. Or if |
| event. Since, it has become the largest fundraising | | | | you want to rekindle an old love -- You're the only |
| event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. | | | | one; Unrequited love; The sun shines when I'm with |
| How to Help? Fundraising may differ | | | | you -- they're perfect too! |
| country-to-country. In general: | | | | |