History of the Language of Flowers
Floral communication is at least as old as the ancient greeks. According to Greek and Roman myths, many gods, goddesses, and innocent nymphs were transformed into various flowers which, in turn, took on the characteristics of these personages.
Floral symbols have been used by the early Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Assyrians, Egyptians and Indians. According to the Mystery and Magic of Trees and Flowers by Leslie Gordon, the first mention of English floral symbols was during the reign of Elizabeth I. William Hunnis, an English, wrote verses that included the phrases “gillyflowers is for gentleness' and 'marigolds is for marriage' and 'cowslips is for council.'
It was Turks in the late seventeenth century who truly developed the art of communicating with flowers, and they could convey almost any sentiment using different flowers.
The language of flowers was introduced to England in the early 1700s by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the English ambassador to Turkey. On March 16, 1718, Lady Montagu wrote to a friend in England that the 'fair maidens of the East have lent a mute speech to flowers” – enthralled with this custom, Lady Montagu published her Turkish Letters in 1763, explaining the floral symbolism for many different kinds of flowers. The custom quickly caught on, as it allowed for communication between lovers without the knowledge of ever present chaperons and parents. In the early 1800s, poet Thomas Hood wrote, “sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing.”
How the flower is presented, was also important. If the blossom was presented upright, it carried a positive thought, if upside down, then it meant the opposite. If the giver intended the message to himself, he would incline the flower to the left. If the message referred to the recipient, it would be inclined toward the right.
If flowers were used to answer a question, being handed over with the right hand meant yes, while the left hand the answer was 'no.'
This information may be beyond what you're looking for, but just to illustrate the detail of their tradition, if a boy sent a girl a rosebud with the leaves and thorns still on it, it meant “I fear, but I hope.” If the rosebud was returned upside down, it meant 'you must neither fear nor hope.” If the rosebud was returned with the thorns removed, the message was 'you have everything to hope for.” If the thorns were left but the leaves removed, the message was “you have everything to fear.” If the young lady kept the rosebud and placed it in her hair, it meant 'caution.' if she placed it over her heart, the message was clearly 'love.'
During the last part of the 19th century, several floral dictionaries were published. But because there was more than one dictionary, sometimes there were errors, and one of the most famous floral misinterpretation was Louisa Anne Twamley in her poem “Carnations and Caveliers.” The poem describes how a knight gave his lady a pink rose, meaning our love is perfect happiness. His lady either did not know about the language of flowers or did not care, for she sent back to him a carnation, which means refusal. The result was tragedy: the lovers died for each other's love.
It was during Victorian period that tussie mussies became popular.Tussie Mussies made marvelous gifts then, and they still do. They are easy to make, and, accompanied by a card explaining the meaning of the flowers used, make a uniquely personal present.
Floral symbols have been used by the early Chinese, Greeks, Romans, Assyrians, Egyptians and Indians. According to the Mystery and Magic of Trees and Flowers by Leslie Gordon, the first mention of English floral symbols was during the reign of Elizabeth I. William Hunnis, an English, wrote verses that included the phrases “gillyflowers is for gentleness' and 'marigolds is for marriage' and 'cowslips is for council.'
It was Turks in the late seventeenth century who truly developed the art of communicating with flowers, and they could convey almost any sentiment using different flowers.
The language of flowers was introduced to England in the early 1700s by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the English ambassador to Turkey. On March 16, 1718, Lady Montagu wrote to a friend in England that the 'fair maidens of the East have lent a mute speech to flowers” – enthralled with this custom, Lady Montagu published her Turkish Letters in 1763, explaining the floral symbolism for many different kinds of flowers. The custom quickly caught on, as it allowed for communication between lovers without the knowledge of ever present chaperons and parents. In the early 1800s, poet Thomas Hood wrote, “sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing.”
How the flower is presented, was also important. If the blossom was presented upright, it carried a positive thought, if upside down, then it meant the opposite. If the giver intended the message to himself, he would incline the flower to the left. If the message referred to the recipient, it would be inclined toward the right.
If flowers were used to answer a question, being handed over with the right hand meant yes, while the left hand the answer was 'no.'
This information may be beyond what you're looking for, but just to illustrate the detail of their tradition, if a boy sent a girl a rosebud with the leaves and thorns still on it, it meant “I fear, but I hope.” If the rosebud was returned upside down, it meant 'you must neither fear nor hope.” If the rosebud was returned with the thorns removed, the message was 'you have everything to hope for.” If the thorns were left but the leaves removed, the message was “you have everything to fear.” If the young lady kept the rosebud and placed it in her hair, it meant 'caution.' if she placed it over her heart, the message was clearly 'love.'
During the last part of the 19th century, several floral dictionaries were published. But because there was more than one dictionary, sometimes there were errors, and one of the most famous floral misinterpretation was Louisa Anne Twamley in her poem “Carnations and Caveliers.” The poem describes how a knight gave his lady a pink rose, meaning our love is perfect happiness. His lady either did not know about the language of flowers or did not care, for she sent back to him a carnation, which means refusal. The result was tragedy: the lovers died for each other's love.
It was during Victorian period that tussie mussies became popular.Tussie Mussies made marvelous gifts then, and they still do. They are easy to make, and, accompanied by a card explaining the meaning of the flowers used, make a uniquely personal present.
Lady Montagu