Flower Meanings: The Language of Flowers

Flowers are a wonderful part of nature that not only look beautiful, but can also communicate special messages without saying a word. Have you ever wondered why certain flowers get used for specific things, like red roses for Valentine's Day? Well, it turns out that different types of flowers each have their own traditional meanings associated with them. A long time ago during the Victorian era, people actually developed what they called the "language of flowers", where they could share feelings by giving bouquets with special flowers. Even though it was a while ago, many of those same flower meanings still apply today. In this article, we will go over some common flowers and explain the history of flower meanings.

What Does Each Flower Symbolize?

The language of flowers was popular in the Victorian era when people would send bouquets to share feelings they could not express aloud. While some of the exact meanings have varied over time, the general symbols still apply today.

Red Rose

The red rose is arguably the most well-known flower symbol. A single red rose typically represents love, beauty, and respect. Giving a bouquet of red roses is a classic gesture of deep romantic feelings. Red roses were thought to resemble the blush of modesty and so conveyed admiration or devotion. The popular phrase "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet" comes from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, further showing how red roses symbolize passionate love in the past. You will still see red roses used prominently on Valentine's Day and weddings due to their strong association with affection and commitment.

White Lily

In contrast to the red rose, the white lily carries a purer image and is easily available at many Kanata florists. White lilies symbolize purity, virginity, and innocence. They were thought to resemble young girls and were often used as emblems of new life and new beginnings. For this reason, white lilies are frequently used in ceremonies like christenings and confirmations. Their pure white blooms also made white lilies natural funeral flowers to honor the departed soul and represent the Christian hope of resurrection. Even today, white lilies continue to have strong ties with spirituality, morality, and reverence.

Yellow Tulip

This cheerful spring flower has several potential meanings. Generally, a yellow tulip indicates happiness, sunshine, and positive thoughts. However, its symbolic language can vary slightly based on the number of flowers. A single yellow tulip expresses thoughts of cheerfulness while multiple yellow tulips express sunshine in your smile. Interestingly, giving a bouquet with eleven yellow tulips signifies perfection and being overwhelmed with a perfectly beautiful declaration of love! So while their core meaning centers around bright and uplifting feelings, yellow tulips can delve deeper depending on creative flower arrangements.

Pink Carnation

Similar to red roses for love, pink carnations have long been a symbol of admiration, appreciation, and recognition. Legend has it pink carnations first took on this meaning when their delicate pink coloring reminded people of the flush in someone's cheeks after receiving a compliment. For this reason, pink carnations became associated with returning gratitude and remain commonly worn in lapels today on Mother's Day. If you want to tell someone "you're worth it" or express appreciation for their friendship without being overly romantic, a pink carnation is a sweet choice from local flower shops in Kanata. Their soft pink hue also acts as a symbolic middle ground between deep red roses and casual daisies.

Daisy

The simple daisy is a flower of innocence, purity, and childhood. Its connection with new life comes from its tendency to bloom in early summer meadows. Daisies have been thought to resemble a young girl's smile due to their bright yellow center and frilly white petals. For this reason, daisies can symbolize youthfulness, purity, and cheer. Sending a daisy bouquet or adding a few to an arrangement brings a sense of joy, playfulness and hope for new beginnings. Their informal, happy nature makes daisies a thoughtful gift without heavy symbolism, perfect for everyday occasions.

The language of flowers allows people to convey emotions in an artistic, symbolic fashion through floral selections. While the precise meanings may evolve over time, certain flowers will likely withstand the test of centuries as potent representations of love, purity, gratitude and more.

Don't hesitate to contact Talisman Flowers today. To explore our floral gifts and place an order, visit us at https://www.talismanflowers.ca. You can send flowers in Ottawa with just a few clicks- order now!