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HEALTH WEEKLY NEWSFLASH!
Having Fun With Flower Meanings
Published on: August 30, 2003by Dina Buck
It surprises me how often people will ask what meaning specific flowers are supposed to symbolize. Being one who would consider receiving most any kind of flower a positive thing, I never paid much attention to what flowers traditionally symbolized until others started asking.
Then, when a co-worker of mine told me there was a significant period of time in history when giving flowers was a language in itself, I was even more intrigued and decided to do a little research. Apparently, in the 19th century Victorian era, giving flowers could send a message more potent than a written letter. There were entire illustrated books on flowers and their meanings. “Florigraphy”, also known as “the language of flowers”, was a special way to send a message of love, but could also be a way to let someone know of indifference, heartache, danger, even a way to say yes or no. Not only did the individual types flowers hold meaning, but the way they were arranged and the degree to which the blossoms were open also meant something.
Today, we often don’t pay attention to “florigraphy” other than red roses typically symbolizing love, and yellow roses symbolizing friendship, but why not open someone’s eyes to the language of flowers and put together a bouquet of flowers with “old fashioned” meaning? Enclosed with the bouquet could be a lovely card or tag stating each flower and what it symbolizes. You can create your own simple or elaborate “statement” that’s being said it in a most unexpected way.
Some of the easier to find flowers are listed with their (arguable) meanings below. Another great way to find other meanings is to do an Internet search. I was overwhelmed with how many lists there are with many variations on meanings.
Of course, flowers also hold the meaning we give them and the feeling with which they are given. If there is a special memory behind a flower, or a special person who gives it to you, that’s the most important thing of all.
