Dating back to ancient times, flowers have been used as a gesture of kindness. We usually give them to those we love and care for. We gift flowers to show them how important they are, to show appreciation, to celebrate an occasion, or even to sympathize. What we don't know is that giving certain kinds of flowers, and even their colors, actually have definitions of their own.
Floriography: (Language Of Flowers)
During Renaissance and medieval times, flowers were often given moral meanings. This is evident in art where saints are often shown with flowers that symbolize the saints' virtues. In an edition of Sixteenth Century Journal, Liana DeGirolami Cheney said 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 Victorian times, flowers were used initially to create or add emotion. The language of flowers, often called floriography, began being used as a discreet form of communication. During the 18th century, sending cyphered messages using flowers became popular. Based on Persian Salaam, a Turkish secret language of flowers, a coded flower arrangement was sent to show feelings of attraction, even love.
A book entirely about flower interpretations by Madame Charlotte de la Tour, "Le Language des Fleurs," dates back to 1819. Another book was written in 1884, titled "Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway, and it is still being used nowadays.
Japan also has a language of flowers, which they call "Hanakotoba." Greeting cards in Japan use the Hanakotoba code, and still use the flower-language in popular culture such as in films and animation, like the anime program "Wei Kreuz."
Popular Flower Meanings
Buy or borrow a flower dictionary to see the several meanings and interpretations of flowers. Some of the most well-known flowers and their interpretations are listed 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 noble thoughts Yellow tulip - hopeless love - 32376
Floriography: (Language Of Flowers)
During Renaissance and medieval times, flowers were often given moral meanings. This is evident in art where saints are often shown with flowers that symbolize the saints' virtues. In an edition of Sixteenth Century Journal, Liana DeGirolami Cheney said 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 Victorian times, flowers were used initially to create or add emotion. The language of flowers, often called floriography, began being used as a discreet form of communication. During the 18th century, sending cyphered messages using flowers became popular. Based on Persian Salaam, a Turkish secret language of flowers, a coded flower arrangement was sent to show feelings of attraction, even love.
A book entirely about flower interpretations by Madame Charlotte de la Tour, "Le Language des Fleurs," dates back to 1819. Another book was written in 1884, titled "Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway, and it is still being used nowadays.
Japan also has a language of flowers, which they call "Hanakotoba." Greeting cards in Japan use the Hanakotoba code, and still use the flower-language in popular culture such as in films and animation, like the anime program "Wei Kreuz."
Popular Flower Meanings
Buy or borrow a flower dictionary to see the several meanings and interpretations of flowers. Some of the most well-known flowers and their interpretations are listed 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 noble thoughts Yellow tulip - hopeless love - 32376
