The magical symbolism of flowers

 Flowers - one could call them the most subtle of messengers - by their very appearance, delicacy and finesse, they arouse feelings in the recipient. It would seem that nothing but the fragrance attributed to them can emphasise their charm more. However, man, a very clever creature, has given some of them additional attributes, and assigned secret meanings to all of them. Don't believe it? Find out by reading on. Here are just some of the inhabitants of the incredibly diverse flower world:

Anemone - according to legend was created from the body of the tragically deceased lover of the goddess Venus - Adonis. In the mysterious language of floristics, it means, among other things, attachment to someone's soul mate, to whom it is usually given.

The pansy is said to have been, in his lifetime, the good and sensitive son of an exceptionally cruel heir. He was supposedly killed when he took a stand for his oppressed subjects, which provoked a fit of anger in his parent. The clearing where he was buried was very quickly covered with these flowers. In florist-speak, it symbolises delicacy

Imperial crown - was also said to be the only flower that refused to bow to the suffering Christ, heading for the place of execution. It was only with another, harsher glance that the flower became 'ashamed', burned with a blush, i.e. took on a more intense colour, and laid its petals down like a frightened horse's ears. This unusual appearance has remained with it to this day.

The chrysanthemum - according to stories from Japanese culture, is the flower of eternal undying love, and each of its many petals is said to signify one year spent together by the lovers. With us, too, in the secret language of flowers, it points to eternity. The white chrysanthemum is supposed to assure someone that the giver still has warm feelings for her. The yellow chrysanthemum suggests jealousy rather than love.

The cyclamen heralds the final end of love and an inevitable parting.

Chicory - the blue petals of the chicory are said to silently tell of the misfortune of a girl whose heart has burst with grief after the death of her beloved in distant lands.

The violet is said to have been created from the tears of Adam, in despair over the loss of Paradise. It is a sign of modesty and the quiet but strong feelings the giver has for the recipient.

Hyacinth - named for the six young men who fell victim to the jealous and possessive love of Zephyr, the Greek god of the wind. Zephyr, whose favour Hyacinth rejected, choosing Apollo, took revenge on both lovers. While they were practising a discus throw, Zephyr directed the air currents in such a way that the said disc struck Hyacinth, causing wounds that proved fatal. The distraught Apollo turned the drops of his beloved's blood into a flower that made both the name and the sad story famous.

Mistletoe - it is definitely a plant with a positive, not to say kissable, message. It too derives from myths, evoking the joy of one of the goddesses, Freya, upon regaining her son, whom she managed to resurrect after three days of effort. The legends say that Freya offered a kiss to every person she met for three days after this event. People found that it would probably be nice to continue this friendly gesture. Thus, the custom was born whereby we can offer or steal a kiss from someone if we spot even a sprig of mistletoe nearby.

Lily of the valley - symbolises delicacy and beauty, and can be given to someone who has captivated us with their outer and inner beauty.

Lily - stands for beauty and dignity. It was one of the royal symbols in France.

Lotus - in India it is believed to have arisen from the blood of the gods, and is a symbol of harmony, beauty, perfection. The lotus flower is readily used as an image to show the beauty of the balanced state of mind that can be achieved through meditation. In the voyages of Odysseus, eating the lotus flower caused a complete loss of memory and no desire to return to his former life. There are references to the lotus flower as a term for one of the positions in yoga and intimate living.

The forget-me-not is meaningfully the opposite of the lotus. It is meant to be a constant reminder that the one who received the forget-me-not is someone very important to the giver.

Rose - beautiful, subtle, romantically elegant depending on the colour, it can be a messenger of fiery love (red), shy behind an invitation to it (white) a subtle suggestion in the style of: I like you (teal). There are about seven thousand varieties of roses. The Persians had an exceptional love for these flowers and even established a Rose Day.

The legendary fern flower, popular in the folklore of our lands, cannot fail to be mentioned here. Finding it on Midsummer's Night was a guarantee that your fondest desires would be fulfilled. Who knows, perhaps it is even better that the fern flower does not want to be found? It is also known that it is within ourselves that we are to look for the inspiration to realise our innermost dreams.

Flowers are a beautiful gift from nature, a wonderful excuse to assure others of our affection. All we need to do is to choose a fragrant gift appropriate to the occasion. If you are unsure of the choice, you can rely on a florist for this. Flowers are timeless ambassadors of affection: although they are silent on their own, they are sometimes enough for a thousand words.