Dating back to historical times, flowers have been used as a gesture of kindness. We usually gift them to those we love and care for. We gift flowers to show them how special they are, to show appreciation, to celebrate occasions, or even to sympathize. What we don’t know is that giving certain kinds of flowers, and even their colors, actually have significances of their own.
The Language Of Flowers
During medieval and Renaissance times, flowers were often given moral meanings. This is evident in art where saints are often shown with flowers that symbolize the saints’ virtues. Liana DeGirolami Cheney stated in an edition of Sixteenth Century Journal that “some of the Christian symbols for Virginity or Chastity are the white rose, the myrtle, a vessel or vase, the lily, and the unicorn.”
Back in the Victorian era, flowers were used initially to create or add emotion. The language of flowers, sometimes referred to as floriography, began being used as a discreet form of communication. During the 18th century, sending coded messages using flowers became popular. Based on a Turkish secret language of flowers, known as Persian Salaam, a coded flower arrangement could be sent to profess feelings of attraction or even love.
Back in 1819, a book entirely about meanings of flowers called “Le Language des Fleurs,” was written by Madame Charlotte de la Tour. A similar book, “Language of Flowers” by Kate Greenaway, was written in 1884 and is still being used today.
Japan also has their version of floriography, called “Hanakotoba.” Greeting cards created in Japan follow the Hanakotoba code, and still use the flower-language in popular culture such as in movies and animation, like the anime series “Wei Kreuz.”
Favorite Flower Meanings
Buy or borrow a dictionary of flowers to see the several interpretations and meanings of flowers. Some of the most well-known flowers and their interpretations are written below:
Buttercup - riches Pink carnations - a woman’s love Chrysanthemum - love in general Forget-me-not - true love Lavender - devotion, distrust Purple lilac - first emotion of love White lily - purity Peach blossom- long-life Red rose - true love Sunflower - pure and lofty thoughts Yellow tulip - hopeless love
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