Legends and Meanings of Flowers

Flowers are beautiful, fragrant and suitable for all occasions. They are also very meaningful in more than one way. There are numerous occasions for which we buy flowers such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and even funerals. Wouldnt it be nice to know the meaning behind the types of flowers you choose to express your feelings? You can also send flowers by choosing ones associated with the recipients birth month. Although there are too many different flowers to list in the scope of a brief article well take a look at a few of them.

Carnations are the flowers associated with the month of January. Carnations are popular flowers and are often favored by many. In general, carnations symbolize fidelity although different meanings have been given according to color. Pink symbolizes remembrance while red is a symbol of love. White indicates purity while yellow is said to mean friendship. Carnations are also known as Joves Flower. According to Christian legend carnations grew from the tears of Mary.

Februarys flowers are iris and violet. Iris is a lovely flower favored by the ancient Romans. It symbolizes faith, wisdom and valor. The lovely violet has a positive connotation all around with the blue variety symbolizing faithfulness and love while the white violet represents hope. Violets are also considered good luck.

The flower for the month of March is the daffodil. This flower is usually associated with rebirth and new beginnings. It has also been said to be a symbol of unrequited love. According to Greek mythology, daffodils grew in the Underworld. It was daffodils that Persephone had stopped to pick when she was carried away by Hades in his chariot.

Daisy is the flower associated with the month of April. This lovely wildflower is a symbol of love and it is best known for the He loves me, He loves me not rhyme that most of us have played at one time or another to try and determine the feelings of someone weve been infatuated with.
Mays flower is Lily of the Valley. This beautiful flower symbolizes sweetness and happiness. It is said to lift the spirits and bring cheer to ones heart. Just gazing upon this serene and lovely flower can bring a sense of calm and peacefulness.

Junes flower is the beautiful rose. Roses are probably the most popular and most admired of all flowers. It is also one of the oldest known flowers. The rose is an emblem of England. It is also the flower of the Virgin Mary. In general, roses symbolize love and beauty although the color meanings that apply to carnations are often given for roses as well.

The flowers associated with the month of July are larkspur and sunflower. Larkspur symbolizes lightheartedness although it is also thought to mean fickleness. Sunflowers are a symbol of adoration but it is also believed to mean haughtiness. It seems to depend upon a persons perspective when defining these two lovely flowers. Sunflowers always face the sun. This flower was revered by the Incas as a symbol and physical representation of the sun god. The sunflower is also a Chinese symbol of longevity.

The flower associated with August is gladiolus. The meaning of this flower is sword and the gladiolus represents admiration and strength of character. According to Greek legend this flower sprung from the blood of the warrior Ajax. Gladiolus has also been revered for its medicinal properties.

Aster is the flower for September. Aster symbolizes patience. According to Greek legend, Aster was a favorite flower of the gods and was placed on temple altars to honor the gods during festivities. According to folklore, if you desire love grow aster in your garden.

The month of October is associated with the flowers calendula and snapdragons. Calendula symbolizes grace or winning grace. It is a sacred flower of India. Calendula is known for both its medicinal and culinary uses. Snapdragons are thought to mean gracious lady and are said to be a symbol of presumption. According to folklore, this flower is thought to protect against curses and treachery.

Chrysanthemum is the flower associated with November. Chrysanthemums are a symbol of friendship, love and truth. Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowers with a rich heritage. This lovely flower is thought to have many meanings including long life, happiness and ease.

The flowers associated with December are the orchid and poinsettia. The orchid symbolizes love and beauty. Orchids are lovely flowers that have long been given as a token of love. Poinsettias are known as the Christmas flower. They are a symbol of cheer, which is a good reason to give them during the holiday season.

In case your favorite flower isnt one of those covered throughout the months, a few more will be briefly listed here.

Fragrant gardenias are a symbol of beauty. Tulips stand for love and enchantment and their presence is as enchanting as their meaning. You may want to send petunias as a get-well flower since they symbolize healing. Express your affection by choosing zinnias or morning glory since that is what they symbolize. Sweet Pea and orange blossom are symbols of remembrance and eternal love. A nice way to let someone know youre thinking of them is to send pansies since they are a symbol of pleasant thoughts. Recognize the efforts of others by sending them lavender which represents acknowledgment. Make someone happy by giving him or her jasmine, which is the symbol of happiness. Breathtaking babys breath symbolizes a pure heart and aromatic honeysuckle is a symbol of fidelity.

No matter what flowers you choose, a gift from the heart is always the most meaningful.



By Darlene Zagata