The Victorian Language of Flowers

Roses are red, Violets are blue… I know their meaning, so do you???

Today, we all know the significance of receiving a single red rose, it’s message clearly conveying passion and love but, if you received a yellow or a lilac rose would you know what it means???

In the Victorian era, a whole new language arose, a form of non-verbal communication so powerful it still has a place today for those wishing to use it… it’s called the Victorian Language of Flowers …

The Victorian Language of Flowers was born from a strong need to communicate emotions such as, love, hate and rejection..
Expressing these emotions verbally, was widely frowned upon and not readily permitted in a society governed by strict social rules.

A society, in which prim and proper was the order of the day, however, suppressed human emotions are a powerful motivator, but how to overcome such stringent restrictions??

Cunningly, a system was devised in which secret messages could be passed from one person to another using flowers and their colours. In this ‘underground’ secret society, messages of love, rejection and hate would pass through the social ranks daily. Even the flowers on stationery would convey unwritten messages, while the written word was within societies rules.

Victorian Language of Flower Meanings.

The Victorian Language of Flowers became so widely used, that books explaining language etiquette date back from as early as 1818.

Today, we all know the significance of a single red rose used to convey passion and love, but what about the other colours and varieties of flowers??

Here we go then, the lovey dovey ones to get you started….

Carnations and their different colours are strongly believed to express all the emotions love more strenuously than roses:
# Light red means Admiration.
# Dark red means Deep love and affection.
# White indicate Pure love.
# Striped ones indicate A love that cannot be shared.

Pink carnations hold the most symbolic historical significance. Legend has it, that pink carnations grew on earth for the first time, when Mary Magdaline shed tears at Jesus’ plight. The carnations grew on the ground where her tears fell. I don’t know about you but true or not I like that legend. Today, pink carnations are an emblem for Mothers Day representing a mothers undying love.

Roses are Red…
# A White Rose means Im worthy of you.
# A Lilac Rose means Love at first sight.
# A yellow Rose means Friendship.
# Blue Violets mean Faithfulness.
# Purple Lilac means First emotions of love.

Now some of the NOT so nice meanings:
# Basil means Hatred.
# Lavender means Distrust.
# A withered bouquet is a sign of rejected love.

Now that you are armed with some of the Victorian language of flowers, go send the love message ASAP….

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