Let Flowers Speak on Any Occasion
As the month of May boldly strides on, and the weather warms up (or heats up, depending on your region), we come closer to many celebrations. Mother’s Day takes the lead, followed with graduations, and maybe even a wedding, but all occurring in the month of May. Here’s a riddle: what is the common ingredient in all these celebrations?
If you have guessed flowers, and lots of flowers, then you’re perfectly correct. The month of May is about getting an explosion of blooms in our gardens and gifting many flower bouquets to family or friends. The traditions surrounding either gifting or decorating with flowers are deeply engraved into the past, present and will continue into future.
Many history reliques and books give us a glimpse into the old life. Literature portrays gifting of flowers as a romantic gesture to beloved. During their upbringing, the young wealthy ladies were trained to artfully arrange flowers. Victorian Era in England had a small book circulating with meaning of different flowers, so the courting couples could communicate their feelings. Flowers played a part in religious ceremonies in many cultures. Renaissance paintings are well known to include blooms alongside with fruits in their still life paintings. Chinese culture is well known for their exemplary history records, and as well as including cherry blossoms in their art and traditions. Cherry blossoms in their culture symbolizes celebration of spring, beauty and femininity, and the fleeting nature of life. Greek and Romans weaved in flowers to crown their heroes. The oldest book, The Bible, has mentions of flowers 150+ times. Many cultures throughout history have had an appreciation and use of flowers for special occasions.
During our modern times, flowers still play a significant role in our celebrations. Have you ever been to a wedding of absolutely no flowers, like not even a bud vase? The beauty of a bridal bouquet and graceful centerpieces are all about celebrating the beauty of a new love and birth of a new family.
“Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them.” — Chinese Proverb.
The most common use of flowers is a romantic gesture between couples. In this day and age, red roses still mean love and passion. Walking by that flower bouquet gifted by my husband and now decorating our kitchen table, still warms my heart and brings another happy smile.
We honor our mamas on their special day, the upcoming Mother’s Day. By gifting a flower bouquet, we communicate our love, gratefulness and appreciation for their hard work and sacrifice in raising us.
We congratulate and bring flowers to the graduation ceremony of a friend or sister, who have completed their studies in a university. The flower bouquet communicates our rejoicing with them on such a big accomplishment.
And finally, flowers are used on the final journey of life known as death. Funeral wreaths and casket flower arrangements are a bright spot in the otherwise hushed and sad atmosphere. Again, this is a long, old tradition to have flowers at a funeral in some shape or form. The flowers remind the living of beautiful, but fragile and fleeting life.
Fresh cut flowers and floral arrangements can be used on many occasions, and they will be accepted with gladness. We do not associate it with another language, but we do communicate our sentiments with flowers. Not in a secret, Victorian Era meaning of words, but simple and kind words of appreciation, honor and sharing of celebration. If anyone is at loss for words, let the flowers speak for you.