The Colorful History of the Language of Flowers
Have you ever received a bouquet or a botanical art piece and wondered if those flowers were saying something special? Welcome to the fascinating world of floriography, or, the language of flowers! This charming way of communicating through blooms has a rich history that spans centuries and cultures.
Ancient Beginnings
The roots of the language of flowers go way back, even to ancient Greece and Rome. People weren’t just planting pretty gardens; they were using flowers to honor their gods and express feelings. Think of it as the original emoji for emotions! In China, Korea, and Japan too, flowers carried deep meanings, symbolizing everything from virtues to life events.
The Medieval Love Story
Fast forward to the Middle Ages, when things really started to get interesting. During this time, flowers became a popular way to communicate love and longing, especially in the courtly love tradition. Knights would give their ladies flowers as tokens of affection, each bloom packed with meaning. Imagine a knight showing up with daisies for innocence or violets for loyalty—so romantic!
The Victorian Era: Flower Power!
Then came the Victorian era (1837-1901), the golden age of floriography and coincided with a growing interest in botany. Victorians were all about keeping things proper, and direct communication about feelings was a big no-no. Enter flowers! Each flower had its own assigned meaning, turning bouquets into coded messages. Want to say “I love you”? Send red roses. Need to express “I’m sorry”? A bouquet of white lilies would do the trick.
Floral dictionaries popped up everywhere, helping people decode these floral messages. The floriography craze was introduced to Europe by the Englishwoman Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762), who brought it to England in 1717, and Aubry de La Mottraye (1674–1743), who introduced it to the Swedish court in 1727. Joseph Hammer-Purgstall's Dictionnaire du language des fleurs (1809) appears to be the first published list associating flowers with symbolic definitions, while the first dictionary of floriography appears in 1819 when Louise Cortambert, writing under pen name Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote Le langage des Fleurs. Books like "The Language of Flowers" by Kate Greenaway (1883) became super popular, making it easy for everyone to understand what their bouquet really meant.
Modern Times: A Fresh Bloom
Over the centuries, the significance assigned to specific flowers in Western culture varied – nearly every flower had multiple associations, listed in the hundreds of floral dictionaries – but a consensus of meaning for common blooms has emerged.
These days, the language of flowers isn’t as widely used, but it’s far from dead! People still pick flowers based on their meanings for special occasions like weddings, birthdays, or even apologies. And there’s a bit of a revival happening, too—floriography has made its way back into art, social media, and even fashion. Who doesn’t love a good floral print that represents love or friendship?
Why It Matters
The language of flowers adds a personal touch to your gift-giving. When you choose flowers that symbolize something special, you’re not just giving a pretty arrangement; you’re sending a heartfelt message. Plus, it’s just fun to know that there’s a whole secret language hiding in your garden!
The history of the language of flowers is like a beautiful tapestry woven from love, culture, and creativity. Next time you pick up a bunch of blooms, think about what they might be saying beyond their beauty. Whether it’s a love letter in petals or a simple apology, flowers still have a lot to say. So go ahead—speak the language of flowers and let your blooms do the talking! 🌸💖
