The Language of Flowers

For centuries, flowers, herbs and various plants have given much pleasure to people of all the nations, because their beauty has the unique ability to bring cheer when someone is ill or downhearted, their fragrances can be used to make lovely perfumes, delicate foliage can be used for certain medicines and foods, and pungent smells can bestir mood.

In fact, they have been so outstanding in this regard, that there is no wonder that mankind has attached significant meanings to them… actually going as far as to formulate a language all their own called "floriography." This "language" was particularly utilized during the Victorian era; however, flowers well into past generations have had religious and symbolic meanings, and still do today.

Flowers adorned almost everything… hair, clothing, jewelry, gowns, men's lapels, home décor and china, and stationery, to name a few. A young man could either please or displease a lady…by his gift of flowers. Flowers would convey messages of love or dislike depending upon which ones were given, their sizes how they were held, or also grouped together. They had a silent meaning of their very own, and could "say" what was not dared to be spoken. Even the manner in which flowers were sent had a special meaning. A flower presented in an upright position represented a "positive thought; whereas one presented in the opposite direction had a negative meaning. Too, a person could say "yes" by offering a flower with the right hand - the left hand "no."