All throughout the globe, people send flowers as a token of appreciation or to express their sorrow. However, the symbolism of flowers may vary greatly depending on where you reside. Something that is considered kind or romantic in one nation may offend or bring misfortune to another. Here is a guide about the global meanings of flowers in your own country to assist you in avoiding miscommunications.
Gloomy Blooms
You may be surprised to learn that flowers don’t necessarily represent luck and pleasure. For example, they are associated with death in Egypt, so you may want to think twice before buying a large arrangement for a friend who lives there. Choosing spices or jewellery might be a safer option.
Not just in Egypt but also often seen at funerals in the UK are white lilies. Flowers often used for these kinds of events in Japan include lotus blooms, camellias, and lilies. Surprisingly, funerals in Latvia and Hungary include red flowers, which are often associated with passionate love.
It’s Not All Sunshine And Roses
The symbolism of the rose varies very much around the globe. In Vietnam, giving someone a single rose represents expressing your unwavering love for them. On the other hand, twelve flowers would mean the same thing in Brazil.
Remarkably, flowers aren’t inherently romantic. Receiving 20 red roses at the age of 20 is a habit in Korea, for instance. In Italy, a bouquet of red roses can mean either a declaration of love or a strong desire for victory. On April 23, on the Feast of Saint George, people in Catalonia often exchange roses as a way of paying tribute to their patron saint, who vanquished a dragon and caused a rose to bloom from its blood.
Lucky Petals
Some civilizations think that certain plants or flowers might bring good fortune. The four-leaf clover has great significance in Western culture due to its ability to bring good fortune. According to legend, when Eve departed, she plucked one from heaven to bring good fortune. Keep a cautious eye out for these uncommon clovers, particularly if you’re superstitious. The more popular three-leaf clover, or shamrock, in Ireland, is fortunate and represents national history.
Several Asian societies have the belief that certain flowers might bring good fortune. For instance, it’s believed that lotus blooms bring good energy into houses, while orchids, which represent fresh starts, are often given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Peach blossoms, Narcissus, and pussy willows are a few other lucky flowers.
Potted plants are said to represent a connection that is unable to flourish, so if you’re presenting plants to someone in Asia, stay away from them.
The Power Of Colour
In many cultures across the globe, colour has deep symbolic importance, particularly in relation to flowers. Giving someone blue flowers, for instance, may signify various things in different countries. No matter where you reside, it’s crucial to know which colours are suitable and which ones to avoid.
Light-coloured flowers, particularly white ones, are appropriate for happy events like engagements and births in Arab countries. Their rich hue stands for enduring and profound love. You can get this lovely bloom at any physical store or online flower store in Dubai, for your dear ones! But in Germany, funerals are usually the occasion for white flowers. Black and purple are associated with sadness in Brazil, so avoid wearing these hues.
But there are fortunate colours as well, so it’s not just about avoiding them. Given its association with good fortune in Asian cultures, crimson is a widely sought-after hue for floral arrangements. Italians see blue flowers as a symbol of independence and yellow and orange as emblems of happiness.
Top Five Most Expensive Flowers
- The Kadupul Flower is very valuable as picking it would inflict harm. It only blooms at midnight and wilts before daybreak.
- After 15 years of development, the Juliet Rose is now worth £3 million.
- Researchers developed the £160,000 Shenzhen Nongke Orchid over eight years, and it takes four to five years to blossom.
- Grown in a sterile laboratory, the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid costs £3,000. It takes eight to ten years to reach maturity and bloom.
- From the blossom of the Saffron Crocus comes the precious spice saffron, which retails for about £800 to £1,000.
Conclusion
The capacity of flowers to communicate across cultural boundaries makes their language universal. We are lucky to be able to incorporate these cultural connotations into our floral arrangements, imbuing rooms with profound meaning. Understanding floral symbolism enables us to respect the rich cultural diversity of our planet while also enhancing the beauty of events.
With this knowledge, we are able to design flower arrangements that have a profound emotional impact on those who see them.
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