#also lily of the valley is finland's national flower so REPRESENT

[cattnipt]

Snow Miku 2015 you're the most famous of them all

[korbeedon]

flower symbolism makes me very very happy. i have no idea why but it makes something in my brain work.

Started in Europe

Conflicting accounts for who was first to write

1. Catherine H. in 1839 “The Language of Flowers” found in her book on the language of flowers, Flora’s Lexicon

Based on the LOF in Victorian England, France, and America

2. Mme. Louise Cortambert (pseudonym “Charlotte de Latour”) in her book “Le 8Langage des fleurs” which translates to The Language of flowers. 

LOF is based on folklore, literature, mythology, religion, and the plant's physical characteristics. 

Symbolic association from Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Greek, and Roman cultures/mythology/religion

Literature from Shakespear

Turkish language of flowers and objects (Selam)

Taking Turkish words for different flowers and finding which other words they can rhyme with and making a sentence out of it. (Armonde (Pear) rhymes with omonde (hope) so a rhyme for these two words can be Armonde - Wer banna bir omonde (Pear - Let me not despair)

The Turkish language came to Europe through two people, Seigneur Aubry de la Mattraye and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Husband and wife. They were Turkish embassies that went before the court of Charles XII of Sweden and shared the language of objects and in this case flowers. 

Physical characteristics (root, stem, leaf, bloom?, and seed

Chrysanthemum/mums: A symbol of death and mourning, but also support and encouragement

Found in east Asia in grasslands, mountain slopes, riversides, fields, and seashores

In Europe, it means death because it was a commonly used flower to decorate graves in the 1700s. Asian Countries have a more positive meaning, used for family seals and pottery. (represents the turning of the seasons) November birth flower

Forget-me-nots: It can be used to symbolize remembrance – both during a parting or after death (bright blue flowers)

Europe, Asia, and Australia in wood/boggy areas

German folktale, where a dying knight threw flowers at his lady and said forget-me-not, the lady wore the flowers forever. 

Hyacinth: Sorrow, I am sorry. Please forgive me.

The Mediterranean and tropical Africa and woodlands

From greek mythology, where apollo and zephyrs killed Hyacinth and his remains were turned into purple hyacinth in the sorrow of his death. (slightly toxic)

Yellow Roses: Said to symbolize friendship

Mostly in Asia but in other places to

Yellow is a very positive and happy color, In Korean and Japanese culture, it was used as a symbol of jealousy. 

Daffodils: Symbols of rebirth and hope

Europe, Asia, Mediterranean meadows/woodland edges

The first flowers bloom in the spring, so it represents the new life after the winter months. March birth flower cause it usually blooms in march

Foxglove: Symbols of insecurity + many other things

Europe, the Mediterranean, and in woodlands

From Folk’s gloves (the fae folk), cautious tale to scare children from picking them. (Poisonous) also grown for the Virgin Mary (our lady’s gloves/gloves of the virgin)

Lily of the valley: Means the return of happiness

Eurasia, eastern North America, and in mountain forests

Used in religious ceremonies, it Represents Eve’s tears after she left the garden, the national flower of Finland, the May birth flower, is associated with Ostara, known for her humility (germanic mythology)

Baptisia (False/Wild Indigo): Symbolizes protection

Central and eastern north America near wood, meadows, stream

Associated with Venus (the Roman version of Aphrodite), (toxic but can be used as a noninflammatory, indigenous people use it for blue dye)

White orchids: symbolizes apology

Asia and in tropical forests

over 35,000 different varieties, based on the word orchis (which means testicles in greek because a writer said orchids looked like them) sign of wealth in the victorian era and in japan

Yarrow: symbolizes a wish for better health

Grasslands and forests, Eurasia

comes from the greek word here which means holy herb, neanderthals though they were a holy flower, druids used them in ceremonies, medieval Europe used them to exercise ghosts, dreaming means you'll receive good news, good for clotting blood

iris, arborvitae, and bluebell- are supposed to convey trust, friendship, and gratitude.

Carnations- innocence, remembrance

Hyacinths- deep sorrow, forgiveness, regret

White lilac- youthful innocence, new beginnings

Peonies- Family

Red roses- love, respect

Yellow rose- friendship

Blue tulip- peace and tranquility

Blue gladiolus- loyalty

Iris- hope

White tulip- I’m sorry

Lily- sympathy, innocence

Purple hyacinth- deep sorrow

[the-moral-of-the-rose]

Tags by @batmanstwelfthkid:

#also if we look at the linguistic associations of each flower#the term orchid comes the Greek ‘orcheos’ meaning male genitalia#while the lily of the valley is highlighted in the Song of Songs from the Old Testament#so you’ve got this more erotic classical association with the orchid#but the lily is acceptable to a Christian society and directly tied to god and marriage

Oh my... I love this! I can also add:

Orchids meaning:

"During the Victorian Age, orchids were seen as symbols of supreme luxury and wealth. Only the very rich could afford to have orchids in their homes, as they were extremely difficult to grow and care for.

For a time, orchids were so highly sought after that the Victorians began to suffer from "Orchidelirium", an obsession with collecting the rare and beautiful bloom.

In floriography, the language of flowers which gained popularity in the Victorian age, orchids could be given to someone as a way to convey a message of love or to tell a woman she was beautiful."

"In China, orchids are primarily symbols of beauty and good taste. They are also symbols of wealth, power, respect and admiration.

Orchids have similar symbolism in Japan. They’re said to represent purity and elegance, and the royal family considered them symbols of wealth and power.

Orchids became symbols of fertility and virility in Ancient Greece. In fact, it was believed that the tubers of certain orchid species could be eaten to increase a man's sex drive and potency."

From:

Lily of The Valley:

"A symbol of purity, joy, love, sincerity, happiness and luck, lily of the valley has much significance beyond the United Kingdom. It's actually the national flower of Finland, and in France, on 1st May for La Fête du Muguet, lily of the valleys are gifted to loved ones. This French custom dates back to the 16th century (inaugurated by Charles IX, King of France, in 1561) – symbolising luck and happiness.

Lily of the valley is mentioned 15 times in the Bible, most often in the Song of Solomon. With strong biblical connections, it's said to have first bloomed where Eve's tears fell as she left the Garden of Eden."

From:

Royal - orchid, Gilbert - lily of the valley

I think the flowers Gilbert and Roy gave Anne perfectly reflected each of them.

Roy once gave Anne orchids: expensive, exotic, exquisite, showy. Gilbert gave Anna lilies of the valley; subtle, sweet, delicate, simple. Very young Anne might have dreamed of fancy flowers; but the adult Anne found them impossible to live with.

There was nothing wrong with orchids; Anne simply preferred lilies of the valley.

In a way, these flowers were a symbol; Anne believed she wanted to love somebody who came in a splendor of shining armor, amid triumphant fanfare, while in reality, she needed a friend, a companion, somebody she could depend on, somebody who possessed the ability to make her smile in darkest moments, somebody who'd help her build a home of her dreams.

In reality, she needed lillies of the valley, not orchids.

Side note: I wonder if Montgomery had something against orchids. These are the flowers Emily must have disliked after the events of the last book, too.

Thanks to @pinkenamelheart for inspiring this metaphor!

[tipsycad147]

Lily of the Valley Magick and Lore

Published April 28, 2019 | By shirleytwofeathers

Parts Used: Fresh flowers

Planet: Mercury

Element: Air

Magickal Influences: Peace, Conscious Mind, Memory, Attracts Fairies

Convallaria magalis, the botanical name for Lily of the Valley means “that which belongs to May,” making lily of the valley the recognized flower of the month of May, and thus, May birthdays. It is also the official flower of the zodiac sign Gemini.

This plant is also known as Little Maybells, May Bells, Mary’s Tears, Our Lady’s Tears, Jacob’s Ladder, Ladder to Heaven, Jacob’s Tear, May Lily, Convail Lily, Lily Constancy, Muguet, Male Lily, Convallaria, and Fairy Cups.

The well-known and dangerous effects of lily of the valley apply to its internal use, but not to its fragrance. Don’t eat, drink, add to your bath water, or rub into your skin.

Lily of the valley is a fragrant flowering plant used in religious ceremonies, world celebrations, perfumes and in gardens. Also known as the May lily, the name means “return to happiness” and most often symbolises chastity, purity, happiness, luck and humility. Its meaning and symbolism are represented in Christian lore and folklore, on May Day, weddings and birthdays, and in various celebrations throughout the world.

This tiny plant produces sprays of white, bell-shaped flowers that emit what Culpeper calls a “pleasant, grateful scent.” The aroma instills peace and strengthens the conscious mind. With visualization, the scent will heighten your ability to recall old information and strengthen your powers of memory.

Although the cut flowers are occasionally available in florist shops in springtime, no true lily of the valley essential is available.

This European native plant was first cultivated in 1420 and is beloved by the Fae and humans alike. It is sometimes called Fairy Cups, because the flowers look like cups the fairies have hung up while dancing. The flowers are said to ring when fairies sing and to form ladders fairies use to reach reeds from which they weave their cradles. Obviously, this is a good plant for attracting the Folk to your magickal garden.

According to folklore, this plant blooms on the grave of someone who was executed for a crime they did not commit. It is thought that planting them in the garden will protect the home from ghosts and evil spirits. Although some people consider it bad luck to bring the flowers into the house, in France, people still trade gifts of this plant on May Day in order to have good luck through the year.

The scent of this flower is said to attract nightingales and to give people the power to see a better world.

In the language of flowers, Lily of the Valley means return of happiness, purity of heart, sweetness, tears of the Virgin Mary, you’ve made my life complete, humility, happiness, love’s good fortune. One legend of the lily of the valley is that it sprang from Eve’s tears when she was kicked out of the Garden of Eden.

As a symbol of chastity, purity, modesty and happiness, lily of the valley has been a popular wedding flower since the Middle Ages. According to legend, its strong fragrance lures the nightingale to find his mate. For some brides, the flower is the fifth item carried during a wedding, along with something old, new, borrowed and blue. In Holland, the flower is planted in a newlywed couple’s garden as a symbol of the renewal of love.

Lily of the valley is supposed to protect gardens from evil spirits and is known to have been used as a charm against witches’ spells. It is also considered the flower of fairies, its tiny bells used as cups from which to drink.

Some European countries believe lily of the valley prompts visions of heaven, aiding man to see a brighter future. In Germany and Scandinavia, the flower is a springtime symbol of good luck. In England, when St. Leonard of Sussex fought his grievous great battle with a dragon during the sixth century, as a commemoration to his efforts, the flowers are believed to have sprung from the ground where his blood spilled.

It is also believed that the flower is in honor of Maia, the daughter of the mythological Atlas, the oldest of the Seven Sisters and the goddess of growth, increase, fields, and spring. She and Zeus are the parents of Hermes (Mercury), and so she is the grandmother of magick, which was invented by her son Hermes. The month of May is named for her, and the 1st and 15th of May are her sacred days. Her worship survives as the celebration of the Queen of May in the Catholic church. In the past, only women were allowed to worship Maia. In ancient Rome, May was a time of purification and religious rituals, so it was a very unlucky month to get married (pretty interesting considering that nowadays lilies-of-the-valley are a standard in the bridal bouquet and represent marital longevity).

Lily of the valley is associated with Gemini because of the Mercury (Hermes) connection. Gemini rules divination and summoning, and since Mercury rules magick, this is a good plant to use for ceremonial magick or divination. You could make a great oil for aiding divination by macerating (soaking) the flowers in almond or olive oil. Make a number of macerations in the same oil to get a good buildup of scent. The lily of the valley perfumes commonly available are made from synthetics. Growing the plant is the only way to acquire a natural perfume of the flowers.

On May 1, 1561, King Charles IX received lily of the valley as a gift of luck and continued the tradition every first of May by giving the women of his court this fragrant flower. Today, every year in France, bunches of lily of the valley are sold on streets. In some cities, on May Day, folks wear a sprig in their clothing. The flower is also a symbol used on International Worker’s Day (also known as May Day), or Labour Day as it is known in the United States. The Finnish girl’s name Kielo means lily of the valley. It is also Finland’s national flower.

Considered a Mercury herb, lily of the valley was in the past used for illnesses of the head or brain, such as melancholy, depression, epilepsy, and stroke. Its decoction was mixed with lavender and peppercorns and spread on the forehead and back of the neck to bring someone to their senses. However, later it became much used as a far less poisonous substitution for foxglove and applied to heart disease. Historically, Germans have made a raisin wine with some of the flowers. This demonstrates that although the plant is toxic, the poison is poorly absorbed. The sap can be a skin irritant, however. Leaves of this plant furnish a green dye in spring and yellow in autumn.

The sweet, bee-attracting flowers appear in May; folk belief says plant tomatoes when you see them appear. It makes a great ground cover around shrubs, especially under lilacs (blooms at the same time). This is a good plant for the corners of your house, where nothing else will grow. It produces berries but reproduces mainly through creeping rhizomes.

Information collected from various sources.

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/magickal-ingredients/lily-of-the-valley-magick-and-lore/