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Home and Family > Holidays > About Flowers – The Meaning Behind the Bouquet
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Dave Schreiver
Joy and jealousy, desire and dejection, solitude and sadness, loyalty and love, flowers echo each voice of the human heart. Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day are traditional holidays for flower giving, and flowers are also given as expressions of joy when welcoming a new baby, or as an act of sympathy when a loved one dies. The next time you share flowers with a friend or loved one, it may be fun to let the recipient know the meaning behind the flowers you selected.
While the symbolic and legendary meanings of flowers were known to many during Elizabethan times, it was the Victorians who assigned simple messages to individual flowers. Introduced to the Swedish court in 1714 by Charles II, the Victorian mode of flower language soon spread throughout Europe.
During this time of strict protocol and conformity, men and women used the beauty and color of flowers to express emotions, wishes and thoughts they dared not speak, and every corsage, bouquet, and garland represented a carefully chosen sentiment. Presentation was also important; for example, a
bouquet with a ribbon tied to the left told about the giver, while a ribbon tied to the right signified the receiver. Upside-down bouquets portrayed the exact opposite of the flowers' common meanings: to receive an inverted rose was the ultimate form of rejection.
Flower Language became so important that durch die Blume sprechen (speaking through flowers) became a Western proverb, which meant any flowery or poetic expression hiding a secret message of love.
Here are a few of the most common bouquet flowers, and their meanings:
Carnations:
Pink – Gratitude
White – Remembrance
Roses:
Red – Passionate Love
White – Purity
Pink, Yellow – Friendship
Peach – Let’s Get Together
Tulips:
Red – Declaration of Love
White – Forgiveness
Yellow – Hopelessly in Love
Yarrow – Good Health
Sunflower – Adoration
Peony – Healing
Heather:
White – Protection from Danger
Pink – Good Luck
The next time you share a bouquet with a friend or loved one, add to the loveliness of the gift with a few romantic or caring words about your flower selection. The kind words are sure to be remembered and cherished long after the flowers have wilted.
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