Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes the blooming of many flowers in gardens and fields worldwide. Flowers throughout history have had many uses, such as medication, gifts, and, most interestingly, secret codes. This code was first used in the Victorian era, mostly by women. The language of flowers is a code system that uses different species of flowers to convey a message. Many people have used this code to confess their love or to give a heartfelt apology to someone close to them. Each flower has its meaning, and together in bouquets, they can form complex messages if the right flowers are chosen. Though many know about the flower language, only some people know the true meaning behind each species. This spring, I want to bring more awareness to this code, so today, I give you the basic language of flowers.
The first flower, with the most commonly known meaning, is the myosotis flower, more commonly known as the “forget-me-not” flower. As their name suggests, forget-me-nots most commonly represent remembrance, though they can represent other concepts such as faithfulness toward a partner. The name “Forget Me Not” stems from a legend about a German knight on a stroll with his lady. It’s said that the lady noticed small, blue flowers on the bank of a river and wanted to save them. This led the knight to jump into the river to retrieve the flowers before they washed away. The knight ends up not being able to withstand the current and gets washed away, yelling out to his lady, “Forget me not” in German before being completely taken by the river. The lady goes on to name the flowers after his final words and wears these flowers until her death. This story is the basis for the message of faithfulness to a partner. These flowers can tell a loved one that you are thinking of them, or let a partner know that you will always be faithful.
The next flower to know is the rose. The red rose is a very common flower for suggesting romance or romantic feelings. Often, people will give their significant others roses on special occasions or on a whim to show how much they care for their partner. Emily Flood, a student at Dover, said, “If I were to receive a rose, I would feel loved and appreciated by the people close to me. Though the rose is known for its romantic meaning, it also has different meanings depending on the color of the rose. While some of these aren’t natural colors for roses, colors such as yellow and orange represent friendship or passion. These flowers have close associations with the Greek goddess Aphrodite, like in the Iliad, where she protects Hector’s body using rose oil. These flowers can be used to express love or friendship to someone near and dear to your heart this season.
The last flower, the lily, typically represents rebirth and purity, but can also be represented differently based on color. Pink lilies can represent femininity and love between a parent and child. Red lilies, like red roses, have a more romantic connotation and can be used as a substitute for roses if needed. Yellow and orange lilies usually represent a more joyful and positive attitude towards someone. Orange can mean a job well done and make for good congratulatory gifts for events like graduation. Yellow lilies symbolize joy and new beginnings and can be used as a way to say Happy Birthday or congratulate someone on a new job. Lilies have many meanings and are very versatile when sending messages in flower language.
The language of flowers is a vibrant and engaging tradition that has been used for ages. Every flower you come across has a beautiful meaning behind it. They can be used to write secret messages or to confess love. This season, I hope that this guide encourages you to use this beautiful language with friends and family to preserve this beautiful practice.
