The Language of Flowers

St. Valentines Day is creeping up on us which means flowers, flowers and more flowers.  During the 1800s, a time of symbolism and poetry, there were set symbolic meanings behind gifts of flowers. While certain meanings varried from place to place, many manuals existed to help people choose their flowers carefully so as to not give false intentions. So, to prevent all of the gentleman from saying "You are a sickly, ill-natured beauty with a changeable disposition" to their sweethearts, here is a short little guide for the common flowers of today.( A helpful hint: deep-red roses symbolize "Bashful Shame.") 

 

Common-modern-day flower meanings and etching excerpted from: The Illustrated Language of Flowers by Anna Christian Burke (1856):

Daffodils: Regard  

Roses: Love

Deep-Red Roses: Bashful Shame

Burgundy Roses: Beauty, Unconscious 

White Roses: "I am worthy of you."

Yellow Roses: Decrease of Love/ Jealousy

One Single Rose: Simplicity

Thornless Roses: Early Attachment

Red and White Roses, together: Unity

White Lilies: Youthful Innocence 

Imperial Lilies/ Oriental Lilies: Majesty 

Red Tulips: Declaration of Love

Yellow Tulips: Hopeless Love

Variegated Tulips (Tulips with more than one color on each petal): Beautiful Eyes

Fern (commonly "leatherleaf" today): Fascination

May everyone enjoy the holiday. I hope the flowers bring joy and color to this bleak snowy February. I do not personally like the commercial nature that has evolved, although I do admit the world needs more love. I strongly urge :D everyone to make their own Valentine's Day cards. Handmade cards are the best and they can mean so much more than a card picked out from the store. In past times valentines were given anonymously. It would be very fun and romantic to bring back that tradition! 

Some thoughts on Valentine's Day from 1864 can be read in The Book of Days. It is interesting to read about.