Giving flowers as a way to express yourself to another person is a time honoured tradition, used by young and old alike. But do you really know what your flowers are saying when you buy them? Each flower has a different symbolic meaning, based on bloom and colour, and can be used to deliver a very specific message without the need for words.
The flower that most people recognise instantly as carrying a certain message is the rose. Most people tend to associate roses with romance; however you'll find that different roses actually carry different associations. Though red roses are traditionally romantic, pale pink and yellow roses represent friendship, while white roses are associated with purity. Dark yellow roses can even stir up problems with their underlying message ? though they represent joy and happiness in Western cultures, in Islamic folklore they are associated with adultery and deceit. Clearly, it's a good idea to consider the cultural impact of giving any kind of gift, flowers included.
If you're after a flower with a bit of history, look to the tulip. These flowers were once so expensive in Holland that only the richest classes could afford to buy them. Merchants in the 1620s, therefore, began doing a massive trade in tulips, resulting in 'tulip mania' among those who were desperate for the status symbol. In 1623, for example, a tulip bulb could cost up to 1000 Dutch florins, over six times the average yearly income. Somewhat inevitably, 'tulip mania' led to trading disaster and financial ruin for many people. Today, however, tulip mania has disappeared. Instead, tulips now symbolise a declaration of love.
It is, however, important to be careful with the message your flowers are sending. Depending on colour and culture, certain blooms can have very contradictory meanings. The carnation, for example, can symbolise love and passion when it is dark red, whereas white carnations mean good luck. Similarly confusing is the petunia, which can symbolise resentment and anger, or be used to say "your presence soothes me."
Whatever message you want to send with your flowers, there are plenty of alternatives out there to let you express yourself perfectly. And now, with large companies like Interflora leading the way, you can find large flower shops in Birmingham, London, Manchester, and almost every city in the UK. Talk with the experts, and let them put together a strong message for you in flowers.
Maricruz Tennill wrote this article after hearing about Inteflora's flower shops Birmingham.
