Month |
Flower |
Origins
and
Meaning |
| January |
White
Carnation |
The
carnation
has many
contradictory
meanings.
According
to the
legend,
King Louis
IX discovered
it in
Africa
and used
it as
a medication
against
the plague.
In the
middle
ages it
symbolized
fertility.
Later
the flower
became
the flower
of the
‘working
class’
in England
while
the catholic
church
adopted
it as
the symbol
of the
Virgin
Mary,
and the
crucifixion
of Christ. |
| February |
Violet |
This
fragrant
flower
is tiny
yet vigorous
in its
growth.
It is
self-pollinating,
which
is why
in the
middle
ages,
the church
adopted
it to
symbolize
the immaculate
conception
of the
Virgin
Mary.
This flower
is associated
with innocent
love and
virtue. |
| March |
Daffodil |
This
flower
is associated
with vanity
and death.
The daffodil
is in
fact of
the narcissus
family,
and is
yellow
in colour.
Legend
has it
that Narcissus
saw his
reflection
in the
water
and fell
in love
with it,
he leant
forward
and eventually
fell into
the water
and drowned.
At the
spot where
he had
been kneeling,
a daffodil
sprang
from the
ground. |
| April |
Sweet
Pea |
This
flower
is in
constant
bloom,
which
is why
it came
to be
associated
with lasting
pleasure.
This flower
has curling
tendrils
and vivid
colours. |
| May |
Lily
of the
Valley |
This
fragrant,
delicate
flower
is in
fact poisonous.
Since
it grows
only in
spring,
it signifies
the return
of happiness.
Many youths
would
await
the coming
of the
lily in
May to
celebrate
as it
was thought
to bring
luck in
love. |
| June |
Rose |
The
rose is
truly
the queen
of flowers.
In ancient
Rome,
youths
wore them
at Council
of elders
or into
battle.
The Catholic
Church
adopted
it as
the symbol
of the
Virgin.
According
to the
Jews,
the rose
sprang
from the
first
blood
that was
spilled
on Earth. |
| July |
Delphinium |
This
bright
blue flower
takes
it name
from the
Greek
for ‘Dolphin’,
because
its petals
reminded
the ancient
Greeks
of the
fins and
snout
of the
dolphin. |
| August |
Gladiolas |
This
is the
flower
of the
gladiators,
and symbolizes
strong
character.
It used
to grow
freely
and abundantly
in the
middle
East. |
| September |
Aster |
‘Aster’
means
star and
is believed
to have
sprung
from the
Earth
when the
Goddess
Virgo
spread
some stardust
on Earth.
In Europe
they were
believed
to have
magical
powers
and being
capable
of driving
away the
‘evil
eye’. |
| October |
Marigold
|
This
bright
yellow
flower
follows
the path
of the
sun like
the sunflower.
It has
medicinal
properties
and is
traditionally
used to
treat
irregular
menses,
but nowadays
much research
is being
done into
its anti-cancer
properties.
|
| November |
Chrysanthemum |
A
noble
flower
in Asia:
it appears
on many
Chinese
ceramics
and represents
harvest,
rest and
ease.
|
| December |
Narcissus |
This
flower
is associated
with vanity
and death.
Legend
has it
that Narcissus
saw his
reflection
in the
water
and fell
in love
with it,
he leant
forward
and eventually
fell into
the water
and drowned.
At the
spot where
he had
been kneeling,
a daffodil
sprang
from the
ground. |
