Flowers bring aesthetic pleasure, joy and give rise to positive feelings and associations in everyone who looks at them. Moreover, they are an element of human communication not only as a sign of attention, but also as an ornament or decoration. It is not by chance that they are the most popular gift in the whole world.
In European culture, the language of flowers is intertwined with the history of symbols and semiotics. Its knowledge and understanding is divided into a self-contained system called floriography, which has deep historical roots reaching the biblical texts. In essence, this is the ability to send a message to someone without using verbal communication and, accordingly, for the recipient to be able to read and interpret it accordingly.
The wide interest in their language was connected with the Ottoman Empire and, in particular, with the tulips brought from there in the 16th century. In 1717, a real obsession with the language of flowers arose in Europe thanks to Mary Worthley Montague (1689-1762), wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople. She mentions the language of objects and colors introduced in Asia Minor. The combination of flowers in one bouquet can carry a whole message without the one who presents them with a single word, says Mary Wortha Montague. Through the letters published after her death, the idea of the language of flowers gained popularity in Europe and especially in France, where the first dictionary on the subject appeared in 1809. The Victorian era marked the great importance of the language of flowers because they were used as a means of sending the A message that cannot be expressed. Through them it was possible to conduct a dialogue without words – a question could be answered with a “yes” if the flower was in the right hand and with a “no” if it was in the left hand. In the same way, the object of interpretation was the way of presenting the bouquet, tying the ribbon that holds the flowers, etc. The fact that in a large part of the homes together with the Bible there was also speaks of the importance of handling the language of flowers in this era. and a copy of a book that interprets that language, however different its interpretations are.
Myths and Legends
The images of the flowers appear real or as allegories in the mythologies of many cultures since ancient times. They lie deep in folklore, literary works and even in culinary traditions since ancient times and play an essential role to this day – almost every emotion we experience can be expressed through the right flower. Among the first associations are the paradise gardens and the hanging gardens of Semeramides.
In Greek mythology, the images of Adonis, Narcissus and Hyacinth attract attention. The first young man was loved by Persephone and Aphrodite. One day, while hunting, he was mortally wounded and died in the hands of the goddess of love as red anemones (also known as sedges) appeared from the drops of blood from his wound. Christian symbolism borrows this image and the flower is associated with Christ’s blood from the crucifixion.
Narcissus was a handsome young man from the region of Boeotia, the son of a river god and a nymph. There are many options for the causal links for his tragic history, but what unites them is the breach of his beauty, which he saw in the water surface of a lake, fell in love with his face and, trying to reach it, lost his life in the waters depths. White and yellow daffodils appeared in the place of his death. This plot is the reason why the flower is associated with narcissism and is the basis of the concept of “narcissism”, introduced into psychology by Sigmund Freud.
Hyacinth was also a favorite of the gods – Apollo and Zephyr. During sports activities, the disc thrown by Apollo was directed by Zephyr to the hyacinth itself and caused its death. God Apollo wished to grow from his blood, bearing the name of the dead young man (in Bulgarian this is a hyacinth).
Which flowers should we pay the most attention to
Roses are flowers whose message is directly associated with their color. Thus, the coral and orange rose are a sign of enthusiasm and desire, the dark pink color means gratitude, and the light pink means admiration, the peach color is a sign of a desire to cooperate and complete a deal or initiative, yellow roses are a sign of conjugal love. Joy and contentment, the white rose is a sign of innocence, charm, silence and mystery, purple – love at first sight. Red roses are a symbol of a strong passion, and an unequivocal “I love you” message in almost all cultures. Therefore, red roses should not be sent in a business relationship. Very dark red roses are associated with death and spells. Daisies are a symbol of innocence and friendship, the iris is a sign of fidelity, admiration, wisdom and value, the lily is a message of innocence, purity, and condolences can be offered with it. (In Japan they are interpreted as a sign of death.) The orchid is a symbol of beauty, sophistication and strength. Tulips are a symbol of friendship and are suitable as a gift for a business relationship. Sunflowers are a sign of joy. Laurel branches are used as a sign of victory, olive twigs symbolize peace, myrtle, orange blossom and daisies are a symbol of purity and innocence.
And color matters
It is believed that through flowers we can not just express our feelings, but even the finest shades of them, and this is done through the color of the flower used. The most striking example in this regard are roses, but also poppies, lilies and cloves. 29% of people choose a bouquet according to its color. Of these, 26% stop at the red color, preferences follow purple, white, pink and yellow with a little more than 10%.
National and regional specifics
In most European countries, an odd number of flowers are given, avoiding 13, as the number is believed to bring bad luck. A Dutch proverb says that “food is meant for the body and flowers feed the soul.” This is a very good expression of the attitude of European culture towards flowers in all their types and forms. Already in ancient Rome, brides wore flowers to drive away evil spirits and as a symbol of their fertility. The 17th century marks an upswing in the cultivation of flowers, which naturally coincides with the growing interest in the subject of their language, and the reason for this is the use of greenhouses, in which there is already an opportunity to grow a much greater variety of species on the Old Continent. Today, the largest flowering of flowers is located in Asmer, the Netherlands.
In Asia, laying flowers, especially red, is highly appreciated because it symbolizes a wish for luck. It is not a good idea to serve flowers in a pot, because they symbolize the limitation and pressure of your relationship with the person to whom you serve the flower. On the other hand, in almost every business hall in China, you will see a pot of intertwined bamboo stalks that are believed to bring good luck. This practice has also been learned by a number of companies that have regular relationships with China. In the same country, the most frequently made gift is flowers presented to teachers, and the most popular flower there is the peony, especially for wedding ceremonies.
In the Japanese national tradition, there is a whole language dedicated to flowers, called hanakotoba. This means that when you have to lay flowers in this country, it is good to familiarize yourself with it in advance. The attitude towards flowers is also associated with the traditions of growing miniature trees called bonsai, as well as in the art of arranging a colorful composition called ikebana. Camellia is of particular importance (in the culture of the samurai it meant a dignified death, and today it is associated with messages of love); The chrysanthemum (symbol of power, strength, happiness, success and luck, this is the flower that symbolizes the emperor, which is why it is depicted on his seal, as well as on the most significant order); Narcissus (a symbol of respect); plum tree color associated with elegance and fidelity; Cherry color, as a symbol of a pure and gentle heart.
In Russia, an odd number of flowers is served for happy occasions, and this rule is not followed for flower compositions and bouquets. Roses, lilies and carnations are the most typical flowers for expressing sympathy and condolences.
In Muslim countries, the layout of the bouquet and the way it is presented are also very important. It is best served with both hands or right hand, never left, because it is considered impure. If you are in Egypt, consider another gift, because flowers are not a particularly good idea for situations other than a wedding or funeral. For men who will present a bouquet to a lady with whom they are in business, it is best to say that the bouquet was sent by your wife or a colleague, a woman.
Unlike in Asia, in America and in Brazil in particular, bringing a pot as a gift to your housewives is an excellent idea – so they will not have to look for a vase to put the flowers.
Bouquet
A bouquet of flowers is most often given on a personal holiday (national holidays are not personal and there is no need to bring flowers to this type of reception). When you are invited to someone’s home for dinner or in another situation and decide to bring flowers to the hostess, it is best to serve them without packaging, so that she can quickly and easily put them in a vase without wasting the time that is dedicated to the guests. Therefore, it is preferable to send a bouquet or basket of flowers with your business card before or after the event, with which you will express your gratitude. When choosing a bouquet, smaller and rounder bouquets are suitable for women. More elongated bouquets are served to men (this happens relatively rarely – usually for a stage performer and when receiving a given award or sign). The selection and shaping of the flowers you send or serve is a delicate moment in which you should show your taste, attitude and knowledge of the recipient and the context in which you make this gesture of your attitude and feelings.
Color decoration
When using flowers to decorate a table (for negotiations or for eating) it is good to follow some practical rules that will turn the decoration into a pleasant element of the general beautiful environment of the event. The height should not be above 15-20 cm, so that the guests can see each other calmly when they are seated. Flowers with strong aromas should not be chosen, as they may cause a headache or an allergic reaction. When placed on a dining table, the strong scent of flowers will interfere with the perception of food and drinks. Balance is very important – flowers are just an accent, one should not clutter the table, but preserve the feeling of delicacy and style. Choose the colors to suit the environment in the room. Combine the flowers with the vases in which you place them – if the vases are patterned or with a strong decorative element – use less flowers, with light, neutral tones. The most commonly used flowers for decoration are roses, orchids, tulips, peonies, as well as flowers and foliage according to the season.
In different cultures and historical periods, individual types and dyes of flowers had their own specific symbolic meanings such as a sign of mourning or victory, of hatred or love, of peace or war. In an official situation, however, it is not particularly appropriate to rely on such a “language of flowers” insofar as it is not and could not be universal.
Today, of course, the importance of the language of flowers has been largely lost, almost every culture has a different connotation for the same flower, but the magic of flowers as a message continues to excite. The ability to have a conversation on the topic of flowers will often turn you into a pleasant and desirable interlocutor, as well as help you choose the right flowers for decoration, bouquets and other arrangements.
Let us remember that every language is a wealth and opening a door to another culture and world it builds. Why shouldn’t this also apply to the language of flowers, especially if we imagine the delight of the senses that we will give ourselves by opening the door to just such a world.
The text was prepared by Bilyana Decheva-Guncheva (1972 – 2022), an employee at the Diplomatic Institute since its foundation, lecturer in the courses on protocol, etiquette and ceremonial, as well as a co-author of a study aid on “Protocol and etiquette in the context of the European Union’.
