Flowers have held symbolic and religious meanings for different cultures throughout history, across the globe. These long held links between flowers and religion continue to this day.

The early Christian church developed largely in and around Rome, a city with a long history of incorporating flowers into religion; first in the pagan religions of classic Roman culture, and then the later newcomer of Christianity.

The blood red rose was seen to represent the blood of martyrs to the early Christian church, and slightly later on in the development of the religion, the petals of the rose were identified as representing the five wounds of the crucified Christ.

Hindus also have a long tradition of flower symbolism. The Hindu worship ritual, Puja, translates as 'the flower act?. The lotus flower is the prime symbol of beauty, and also symbolises both fertility and prosperity.

According to Hindu lore, each human being alive on earth has within them the sacred spirit of the lotus, and the lotus position is used to try and reach the highest level of consciousness in Hatha Yoga.

Buddhism also holds the lily to be a divine flower, in this case symbolising the Buddha himself. Legend has it that the place of meditation where the Buddha is said to have gained enlightenment was covered with lilies, with one of the blooms springing up in every spot that his feet had touched.

In Taoist and other Chinese religions, it is the colour of flowers that is the most important symbolic aspect. White flowers are associated with death, and used almost exclusively at funerals.

Red flowers are deeply symbolic throughout Chinese culture, and represent prosperity, happiness and love; just as the red rose holds similar romantic connotations in many cultures throughout the world.

#Pen Name is an academic and keen amateur gardener based in Aberdeen who regularly contributes articles about the symbolism of flowers. Maricruz Tennill recommends Interflora as a supplier of flowers, Aberdeen.