Posted in Life & Happiness

The Gift Of Flowers

Why do we give flowers to express our love for another person? Handwritten letters take effort and pouring out your heart, while diamonds represent eternity. Flowers on the other hand, are easy to acquire and will eventually wilt away. Of course, that is a rather cynical view. There are numerous reasons why people choose flowers as gifts.

Flowers have a language of their own, so choosing the right flower can mean all the difference for a person who has an interest in flowers. For example, red roses represent true love and passion, lilies represent innocence and purity, while lilacs represent memories of youth and your first love.

It is true that flowers are not permanent things, but they symbolise an aspect of love that is more important than “eternity”.
A flower wilts when it is not cared for. Flowers wilt when they are not given enough water or just left in stale water for days without changing the vase water. Every flower needs different kind of care, for example, an orchid may wilt if left in direct sunlight and should be kept in indirect light.

Relationships are inherently dynamic – if you do not pay enough attention to the other person and constantly care and make an effort, it will slowly wilt until it dries up into bitterness. In that regard, perhaps flowers are a better gift than diamonds to symbolise love, as it is a reminder how true love is not something you expect to always stay the same, but something that you have to work hard to maintain.

Or perhaps there is a simpler reason we give flowers to each other. They are simply beautiful to look at add a fresh aroma to the environment. At the most superficial level, a lovely bouquet of flowers is a pleasant thing to receive. Perhaps beyond all the metaphors and hidden meaning, all we wish to say is: “I want to put a smile on your face”.

Posted in History & Literature

Flower Language

Roses are the most common flowers used in modern society to profess one’s love. However, many people do not know the true meaning behind each flower. For example, every colour has a different meaning for roses.

  • Red rose: true love, passion
  • White rose: eternal love, innocence
  • Black rose: death, farewell
  • Yellow rose: friendship, jealousy, betrayal
  • Pink rose: grace, gratitude, youth
  • Mix of red and white roses: unity

As seen from above, a rose can mean love, friendship or even separation. It is also important to note that roses are traditionally given as a bouquet of one, six, dozen or any multiple of six. 
The following is a list of common flowers and what they symbolise:

  • Acacia: secret love
  • Bellflower: thinking of you
  • Cherry blossoms: beautiful mind, purity
  • Chrysanthemum: peace, love, mourning (used in funerals)
  • Cosmos: forever, devotion
  • Daffodil: Chivalry, respect, unrequited love
  • Daisies: innocence, modesty, beauty
  • Edelweiss: memories of an important person
  • Hibiscus: rare beauty
  • Lavender: silence, devotion
  • Lilac: memories of youth, first love
  • Lily: innocence, chastity, purity
  • Magnolia: unrequited love
  • Pansies: memories of love
  • Sunflower: happiness
  • Tulip: declaration of love (red), hopeless love (yellow), broken heart (white)
  • Violet: faithfulness