Monday, 18 January 2010

Let Flowers Say What You Can't

By Fritz Jackson

Since ancient times, flowers have been used as a profession of kindness. We usually present them to those we love and care about. We give flowers to show them how special they are, to show admiration, 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.

Floriography: (Language Of Flowers)

During medieval & Renaissance times, flowers were often given moral meanings. This can be widely seen in art where saints are often shown with flowers that represent or symbolize their virtues. "Some of the Christian symbols for Virginity or Chastity are the white rose, the myrtle, a vessel or vase, the lily, and the unicorn," according to Liana DeGirolami Cheney in an edition of Sixteenth Century Journal.

During 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. In the 18th century, sending messages in code using flowers became popular. Based on Persian Salaam, a Turkish secret language of flowers, a coded bouquet was sent to declare feelings of attraction, 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. Another was written in 1884, called "Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway, and it is still being used today.

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 movies and animation, like the anime program "Wei Kreuz."

Well-Known Flower Meanings

Buy or borrow a dictionary of flowers to see the various interpretations and meanings of flowers. Some very well-known flowers and their meanings 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 lofty thoughts Yellow tulip - hopeless love

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