Speaking of Love – Don\’t Forget Valentine\’s Day Flowers
Imagine having an intimate conversation with someone you love. Now imagine how that conversation would occur without speaking, or even writing. Imagine finding someone you\’d very much like to know better. Suppose they\’re interested in you as well. Imagine getting that relationship off the ground without using words of any kind.
That was the situation in 1800\’s Victorian England. They had a very strict etiquette. Extreme discretion was demanded at all times. Romantic conversations, even in a whisper or in writing, were off-limits. Emotional expression however, will not be denied. People soon found ways around the rules as they attached hidden meanings to many otherwise normal gestures and objects. Flowers in particular were given special meanings.
As a result, secret meanings were given to every type and color of flower. Bouquets became secret messages. An exchange of flowers became a conversation without words. The way the flowers were presented and the way they were accepted also added meaning. Many secret messages were romantic in nature, but some were rejections or insults.
Tussie-mussies, small bouquets of flowers, became very popular. Using the language of flowers, Victorians developed secret messages that declared their intentions, issued rejections, and made acceptances. Emotions that were forbidden in speech or writing could now be expressed in flowers.
As the symbolism grew more complex, many details of the secret codes were written down. Eventually dictionaries and even books were written to clarify the meanings and to help people better create and understand the messages.
Before the Victorians, other cultures used flowers to express emotions. In ancient times cultures like the Greeks and Persians gave their own meanings to flowers. The Japanese too, created their own flower language. The exact meanings of the flowers and colors change over time to fit the needs of the culture but the use of flowers to express emotions continues to this day.
Many cultures had elaborate and lengthy courtship rituals. The giving and receiving of flowers was often an important part of the process. Those practices led to the prominent place of flowers in our modern culture. Valentines Day, Mothers Day, and Easter, among others, simply wouldn\’t be the same celebrations without flowers and plants.
We still use flowers to express our thoughts and emotions, although not in quite the same way as the Victorians. For Valentine\’s Day this year, rather than sending your loved one a simple \”I love you\” with roses, why not try a bouquet of mixed flowers with a hidden message? Search for the \”language of flowers\” online for ideas. Include a note about the hidden meaning of the flowers in the bouquet. Be sure to order your Valentine\’s Day flowers in advance to ensure a timely delivery.
A leading Valentine florist, A-Bow-K has delivered Valentines flowers to Tampa and the surrounding area for 25 successful years.