Language of flowers
The language of flowers, sometimes called floriography, was a Victorian-era means of communication in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. This language was most commonly communicated through Tussie-Mussies, an art which has a following today.[citation needed]
The nuances of the language are now mostly forgotten, but red roses still imply passionate, romantic love and pink roses a lesser affection; white roses suggest virtue and chastity and yellow roses still stand for friendship or devotion. Also commonly known meanings are sunflowers, which can indicate either haughtiness or respect – they were the favorite flower of St. Julie Billiart for this reason. Gerbera (daisy) means innocence or purity. The iris, being named for the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology, still represents the sending of a message. An Anemone signifies disappearance of hope. A pansy signifies thought, a daffodil regard, and a strand of ivy fidelity.[citation needed]
Inevitably there are geographic variances; for example in Texas yellow roses represent true and undying love.
History
The notion of plants having meanings is traditional, as seen for example in the play Hamlet, (circa 1600), Act 4, Scene V, in the passage beginning "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance, ...". The 19th century interest in a language of flowers began in 17th century Ottoman Turkey, specifically the court in Constantinople, connected with the tulips from the Netherlands (see tulip mania). This was then introduced to Europe by two people, Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762, English), who introduced it to England in 1717, and Aubry de La Mottraye (1674–1743), who introduced it to the Swedish court in 1727. This was then eventually popularized in various European countries – in France it was popular from about 1810–1850, via such books as Le Langage des Fleurs ("The Language of Flowers", 1819, Charlotte de Latour), while in Britain it was popular during the Victorian age (roughly 1820–1880), in the US about 1830–1850, and spread worldwide.
Symbolic meaning of flowers
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See also
- Hanakotoba - Japanese flower language
Notes
- ^ Most of the meanings are taken from the book: The Complete Guide to Calligraphy: the Essential Reference for all Calligraphers. Oceana, Quantum Publishing. ISBN 0-681-28864-7.
External links
- Various Flower meaning, history, symbology etc.
- Flowers ebook: The Flowers Personified, 1847
- Chapter Excerpts: History of the Language of Flowers
- Flower Language Bibliography (archive link, was dead)
- Flower Language Bibliography Current version of same authour's page
- Floriography - the Language of Flowers BBC h2g2 entry
- Abecedary and Abatina are not mentioned in original publications of the Language of Flowers
- Floriography Jewelry
- Vietnam Flower
Lists of flower meanings
- Various Flower meaning, history, symbology etc.
- Language of Flowers
- The Language of Flowers
- Victorian Bazaar list of flower meanings
- Flower Meanings by iFlorist
- Flowers Colors Meanings by Flower-Dictionary.com
- Full text scan of "Language of Flowers"; Greenaway, Kate, 1846-1901; via the Internet Archive