Friday, January 22, 2010

Flowers Can Speak For You

By Fritz Jackson

Since ancient times, flowers have been a gesture of kindness. We usually give them to those we love and care for. We give flowers to show them how important they are, to show appreciation, to celebrate an occasion, 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 is apparent in artwork where saints are often portrayed with flowers that symbolize the saints' 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.

Back in the Victorian era, flowers began to create or add emotion. The language of flowers, sometimes referred to as floriography, began being used as a discreet form of communication. During the 18th century, sending cyphered messages using flowers became popular. Based on Persian Salaam, a Turkish secret language of flowers, a coded flower arrangement was sent to announce feelings of attraction, even love.

A book entirely about flower interpretations by Madame Charlotte de la Tour, "Le Language des Fleurs," dates back to 1819. Another was written in 1884, titled "Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway, and it is still being used nowadays.

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 films and animation, like the anime series "Wei Kreuz."

Well-Known Meanings Of Flowers

Purchase or borrow a flower dictionary to see the different meanings and interpretations of flowers. Some of the most well-known flowers and their corresponding meanings are written 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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