Coral rose: friendship, modesty, sympathy.Pink rose: grace, happiness, gentleness.White rose: purity, innocence, reverence, a new beginning, a fresh start.Red roses symbolize love and desire, but roses come in a variety of colors, and each has its own meaning. Unsurprisingly, the color of the rose plays a huge role. The calla lily was interpreted to mean “magnificent beauty,” and a clover said, “think of me.” Likewise, a white violet meant “innocence,” while a purple violet said the bouquet giver’s “thoughts were occupied with love.” A red rose was used to openly express feelings of love, while a red tulip was a confession of love. Pink carnations say “I’ll never forget you,” a sweet sentiment any time of year! Take, for instance, all of the different meanings attributed to variously colored carnations: Pink meant “I’ll never forget you” red said “my heart aches for you” purple conveyed capriciousness white was for “the sweet and lovely” and yellow expressed romantic rejection. Some plants, including roses, poppies, and lilies, could express a wide range of emotions based on their color alone.
Thoughts of absent friends, Lasting affectionįlowers provide an incredibly nuanced form of communication. Purity, Enlightenment, Self-regeneration, and Rebirthīlissful pleasures, Goodbye, Thank you for a lovely time Sweetness, Tears of the Virgin Mary, Humility Open heart, Levity, Lightness, Fickleness (pink or simple varieties). Gratitude for being understood, Frigidity and heartlessness Meanings of Herbs, Flowers and Other PlantsĪlas for my poor heart, My heart aches, Deep loveįlower of the Gladiators, Integrity, Strength, Victory (Please note: Our chart below reflects mainly Victorian flower language.)Ĭlick on linked plant names for a photo and growing guide. See our chart below for meanings of herbs, flowers, and other plants. The meanings and traditions associated with flowers have certainly changed over time, and different cultures assign varying ideas to the same species, but the fascination with “perfumed words” persists just the same. More examples of plants and their associated human qualities during the Victorian era include bluebells and kindness, peonies and bashfulness, rosemary and remembrance, and tulips and passion. And, of course, a wilted bouquet delivered an obvious message!
How the ribbon was tied said something: Tied to the left, the flowers’ symbolism applied to the giver, whereas tied to the right, the sentiment was in reference to the recipient. If the flowers were given upside down, then the conveyed idea was the opposite of what was traditionally meant. How flowers were presented and in what condition was important. Similarly, if given a rose declaring “devotion” or an apple blossom showing “preference,” one might return to the suitor a yellow carnation to express “disdain.” Plants could also express aversive feelings, such as the “conceit” of pomegranate or the “bitterness” of aloe.
A “yes” answer came in the form of flowers handed over with the right hand if the left hand was used, the answer was “no.” Nearly all Victorian homes had, alongside the Bible, guidebooks for deciphering the “language,” although definitions shifted depending on the source.įollowing the protocol of Victorian-era etiquette, flowers were primarily used to deliver messages that couldn’t be spoken aloud. In a sort of silent dialogue, flowers could be used to answer “yes” or “no” questions. Learning the special symbolism of flowers became a popular pastime during the 1800s.
0 kommentar(er)
