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 Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:53 am
Roses are red, violets are blue...but what does it al mean?
As Many of may know, I work in a floral shop and customers always ask
what the meaning of a certain flower is, or what a particular color means. I'm usually always annoyed with such questions, because to me it's whatever you want them to mean. If you give red roses to your Mom, it means "Mom, I love you."
If you give red roses to your lvoer it means, "I'm pationatly crazy for you."
You know, whatever. I was talking to a fellow coworker about this very topic and he brought something to my attention and I though I'd share it with you.
Turns out there is a secret language of flowers dating wayy back to like the 17 century - there is a meaning of flowers that lies far beneath the surface. There is a meaning to colors of flowers, to numers of flowers and to groups of flowers. It is a silent language that has been largely lost to us through lack of use.
History
The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley, wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. Europe quickly picked up on the concept.
In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under the pen name, Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote and published what seems to have been the first dictionary of the flower language entitled, Le Language des Fleurs. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject.
During the Victorian era, the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language that allowed them to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow.
Soo you could sneak around and have love afairs all through flowers.
The messages were hidden.
Presenting flowers upright sends a positive meaning, but if they are presented upside down the meaning is the opposite. If a ribbon is included with the flowers and is tied to the left then the meaning of the flowers refers to the giver, but if the ribbon is tied to the right then the meaning refers to the recipient. Also, flowers can be used to answer questions. When they are presented with the right hand the answer is “yes,” but when presented with the left hand the answer is “no.”
Lovers using flowers to send send each other "secret" messages dates back to Victorian England where romantic significance was given to specific blossoms. In the Victorian era social code demanded extreme discretion. It was simply improper to whisper terms of endearment or — heaven forbid — to declare love.
But as with young people throughout the ages, the Victorians found a way around the rules. By sending bouquets containing flowers identified with "secret codes," they could send messages, plot schemes, and carry on entire conversations. And the Victorian Language of Flowers was born. Small code books and flower dictionaries sprung up everywhere so the proper messages could be sent and received! Pity the young man who sent yellow roses to his love just because he thought they were pretty!
Amazing.
lol
Today the nuances of the language are mostly forgotten, but red roses stll imply passionate, romantic love; Pink roses a lesser affection; white roses still suggest virtue and chastity; and yellow roses still stand for freindship or devotion. Thay may not be the exact vicoritan translations, but they still hold meaning.
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:55 am
Here is a brief list of flower fluency:
Alstromeria Lily - devotion
Amaryllis - splendid beauty
Anemone - anticipation
Apple Blossom - good fortune
Baby's Breath - pure of heart
Bachelor's Button - hope
Bluebell - constancy
Buttercup - riches
Calla Lily - beauty
Camellia - good fortune or loveliness
Carnation - lasting fidelity & deep love
Crocus - joy
Daisy - faith, cheer & simplicity
Fern - sincerity
Forget-me-not - true love
Freesia - innocence
Fuchsia - good taste
Gardenia - joy
Gerbera Daisies - happiness
Gladiola - generosity
Holly - foresight
Honeysuckle - generosity and devotion
Iris - faith, wisdom & health
Jasmine - grace & elegance
Jonquil - affection returned
Larkspur - levity
Lily - virtue, beauty, elegance & pride
Lily of the Valley - happiness
Lisianthus - appreciation
Marigold - sacred affection
Mimosa - sensitivity
Myrtle - remembrance
Olive & Laurel Leaves - plenty & virtue
Orange Blossoms - fertility & marriage
Orchid - you are beauty
Peony - bashfulness
Pink Lilies - symbol of motherhood
Pink Rose - thanks
Purple Lilac - first love
Red Rose - I love you
Red & White Roses (together) - unity
Rosemary - commitment & fidelity
Sage - domestic virtue
Stephanotis (often called The Wedding
Flower) - happiness in marriage
Sunflower = Respect
Sweet Pea - blissful pleasure
Sweet William - gallantry
Tulip - perfect lover
Violet - faithfulness
Water Lily - purity of heart
White Carnation -remember me
White Daisy - innocence
White Lilac - innocence
White Lily - purity & young innocence
White Rose - I am worthy of you
Wood Sorrel - maternal tenderness
Yellow Roses - friendship
Yellow Tulip - hopeless love
Zinnia - remembrance & affection
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:57 am
I will post more and pictures as I find them.
4laugh
3nodding
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:21 pm
wow i did not know this... i just know of rose's and different rose colours refer to different things...
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:06 pm
Since from time to time I'm a romanticist, I really think that the whole language of flowers thing is wonderful. What could be a better way to present human emotions than flowers. :3
Mmm... perhaps I should give my friends flowers when the school ends in the summer....
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:17 pm
Cute. smile I want to name my child after a flower (if I ever have one). lol
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:47 pm
Ceres Adair Cute. smile I want to name my child after a flower (if I ever have one). lol Which flower?
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:59 pm
wow... I knew that flowers had meanings, but damn... that's pretty cool!
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:19 pm
wow i knew some of those but there are sooo many *gose to save that to her own file so she can remember*
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:54 pm
ooooh miguel! I gots a suprise for you at the end of the year!
This'll be good!
A boquet with
a Alstromeria Lily,
a fue Baby's Breath,
a Carnation
a Crocus
Half of a Fern leaf,
forget-me nots
A(?) Myrtle,
A Pink Rose,
Red & White Roses,
A White Carnation,
A White Rose,
And A Zinnia.
The ribbon to the right,
and I'll have a card on it, exsplaing it.
I dont care about the exspence.
I love him.
and If he rejects me,
A large wreath with bunches of yellow tulips will come his way!(God forebid!)
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:39 pm
[~ My favorite flower was always the white rose, So that means, I'm worthy of you all ^^ ~]
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:04 pm
X3 Wow dis is so cool to know!
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:00 pm
Hehe my cat has a secret name. ninja
Blissful Pleasure...
xd heart
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Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:35 pm
Mikako chan [~ My favorite flower was always the white rose, So that means, I'm worthy of you all ^^ ~] I've always liked yellow roses. Friendship.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:12 am
... I've always wants to find out about this sort of thing. These kinds of things are so cuute. whee heart Now, if only I could figure out how to give the person I like a flower secretly. >_>
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