What a desolate place would be a world without a flower! It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome. Are not flowers the stars of the earth, and are not our stars the flowers of the heaven. - A.J. Balfour
Flowers run wild, just like their history. They decorate spring tables and differentiate houses throughout a cul-de-sac. What would new lovers or months of wedding planning be without an array of color? Along with their multitude of variation comes a multitude of meaning. Their petals and smells create silent, understood "words" between the giver and receiver. Flowers have a language of their own, from a grieving loss to the rejoice of a loved one.
The Language of Flowers blossomed most during the Victorian era. It was the age of flora. Gardens flourished and the color green was abundant. A floral dictionary was a necessity for every young love-frenzied girl. They contained painted image after image and their distinct meaning. Westernized popularity spread it throughout Europe and sent it over the Atlantic ocean to America, but flowers and their hidden words started their journey way before the 1800's. The symbolic meanings behind the language of a flower have their place in each culture, dating back to Greek mythology and the formative periods of world religions.
The most celebrated gift flower is the rose. Its significance in the art of giving has created its indent in anniversaries, Valentine's Day, and "Just Because" occasions. The red rose is a universal symbol of unconditional love, but its dark hue paints a distinct picture for each lover. The interpretation behind the rose doesn't end with the color red. The darker the shade the stronger the emotion towards the receiver.
A white rose may be given at the end of a first date to represent sprouting feelings. A yellow rose, an unfavored color within the language, displays the hurt of infidelity or jealousy in a relationship. When the Prophet Muhammed was away at war, he feared his wife Aisha was being unfaithful, so he asked the archangel Gabriel what he should do. Gabriel told Muhammad that when he went home he should ask his wife to place whatever she held in her arms into the river. She held a pile of red roses and ran out to see him, when Aisha dropped her roses in the water, they turned yellow, proving that she had been unfaithful and her unconditional love was tainted.
The iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow, acquired the meaning of "message". She was the messenger between heaven and earth and used the arc of the rainbow to move from place to place. Irises come in all shades, flaunting its meaning with intricate layers.
Despite their bright yellow/orange appearance, the marigold symbolizes grief and loss. When the sun is shining the flower stays open, reaching towards its rays, but once the clouds or darkness roll in, a marigold closes and droops down; as if it were in a sorrowful mood.
Flowers decorate our days and each inhale of their sweet aroma makes life a bit more vibrant. There's more to their delicate form and endless selection. The next time you pick a flower from the earth or buy a bouquet, remember that there's a history hidden between its petals.
