Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers

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The Victorian Era ushered in a time of proper etiquette among the upper class in England during Queen Victoria’s reign (1837-1901). Among the many rules and customs, there were expected behaviors that prohibited outright flirtations, questions, or conversations between others. Floriography isn't a comprehensive book since it only covers fifty known flowers although many are quite well-known to even those who may have limited plant knowledge. As such readers of all grades will find something worth reading about when they open this book. Different cultures have been associating different meanings and symbols with flowers and plants for thousands of years. However, the French were the first to formalize and popularize the language of flowers by publishing Flower language books in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It created a whole new genre. Today the emphasis on the language of flowers has lost its lustre in popular culture, but they continue to be appreciated for their beauty and, when given as a gift, for their generosity and thought.

Floriography: Learn about the hidden meaning of flowers Floriography: Learn about the hidden meaning of flowers

The same goes for red carnations. Not only do they convey feelings of love, but they also add an additional sentiment: My heart aches for you. Dahlias come in various colors and impart a message of strength and positivity. Dahlias are a great choice when you need to express gratitude to a mentor, parent, or someone in a leadership position.The trend spread across Europe, and floriography grew especially popular in Victorian-era England. In this famously buttoned-down (some say repressed) era, many sentiments could never be expressed directly in “polite” society. The language of flowers became a way for the upper class to send coded, secret messages. The tuberose, which was the Persian symbol of voluptuousness, became “purity, peace and innocence.” The Victorian era was awash with illicit glances, unspoken longing, and repressed emotion. Yet few periods have birthed the kind of artistry it saw. Nowhere was this more evident than the literary world: the scandalous tales of Byron faded into the distance, making way for the rhythmic verse and potent imagery of Tennyson. Another artistic revolution was imminent – modern floristry was taking its first, tentative steps, with the emergence of tussie-mussies, nosegay bouquets, and more.

Floriography: The Language of Flowers in the Victorian Era Floriography: The Language of Flowers in the Victorian Era

The language of flowers is the cryptic art form of communicating positive AND negative messages, which is known in the western world as floriography and the “ Victorian language of flowers.” If your friend is far away, send them some zinnia. To the Victorians, these colorful blooms meant that you were thinking about an absent friend. Although the secret Turkish harem language of sélam’ is not exactly like the language of flowers today, it did give repopularize to the idea of saying something with flowers rather than words. From the flower references in the Christian bible to the teachings of Buddha, Chinese medicine to Japanese folklore, flowers have long held special meaning across cultures and time. But the practice of using flowers to send coded messages really took off during the 1600s in the Ottoman Empire. One of the rarest flower colors, blue blossoms, are often associated with feelings of peace, calm, and tranquility. When given in a bouquet, they can symbolize trust, openness, intimacy, and even safety. Across cultures, the like of blue roses may also be connected to mystery and expressions of sympathy. YellowThe language of flowerswas a nineteenth-century cultural craze and popular fad allied to the gift book, or gift annual. An import from France, with romanticised Eastern origins and the notion of a codified set of meanings attributed to flowers, the books were translated,Anglicisedand exploded in popularity in England and America. Whilefloral symbolism, or floriography, did not originate in the nineteenth century, the formalised ‘lists’ perpetuated by thepopularlanguage of flowers anthologies ensured a continual dissemination and reimagination of this language of flora. My thesis considers floriography or floral symbolism innineteenth-century Gothic fictions, so, I am primarily working with the night-side of nature. However, the material culture of the language of flowers anthologies provides an access point for my analysis as I seek to discover whether traditional floral meanings are subverted, adheredtoor extended in Gothic texts. It is interesting to note that though there were and remain several flower dictionaries in use, not all agree on the same meaning of a flower. Meanings were given based on myths, traditions, medical use and at times, simply the active imagination of the one writing the dictionary. There seem to be regional differences as well based on customs or preference. A good example is a yellow rose, which in most situations, is a symbol of friendship. However, in Texas where the yellow rose also happens to be the State flower, the yellow rose symbolizes passionate undying love. Today, much of the meanings associated with specific flowers have been forgotten, but most people associate a single red rose with true love, or an appropriately named forget-me-not as a flower sent when someone is missed or leaving for a time. Bright orange flowers often stand for enthusiasm and excitement. They’re commonly included in floral gifts that offer congratulations or good cheer and offer messages of warmth and happiness. Some orange flowers had negative connotations in the Victorian era, such as hatred. Today, though, orange flowers send an optimistic message. Green

Floriography: the Victorian Meanings of Flowers - My Modern Met Floriography: the Victorian Meanings of Flowers - My Modern Met

By the 1730s, Paris jewellers advertised these vases as“ Porte-bouquets” (bouquet holders). They were small gold and silver tubes lined with glass vials that could then be lined with sponges or moss to keep flowers fresh ( source). On display at the Paris Museum Pink flowers send a message of affection, sweetness, and warmth. They’re a great choice to indicate friendship, love, and gratitude. In Thailand, pink is associated with trust, while in China, pink flowers are associated with good fortune. Blue The use of flowers to convey emotions and thoughts, beyond general appreciation and love might be over, but this book gives you a great opportunity to learn that they used to mean much more in detail. The gardenia sends a specific message: You’re lovely. These white flowers let you tell someone how beautiful you think their new house is while adding a pleasant fragrance to any room. The name aster comes from the Ancient Greek word for “star,” and this flower is recognized for its unique star-shaped head. To Victorians, the aster flower represented daintiness.Armed with the right knowledge, you too can send secret messages through beautiful bouquets. Scroll down to learn about flowers and their meaning in Victorian times. Because of an orchid’s erotic appearance had a long history of being associated with virility, fertility, eroticism, and the female sex. Even its name hides secret sexual innuendos that have been forgotten. Orchid, from the genus Orchis, comes from the Ancient Greek ὄρχις (órkhis), literally “testicle,” because of the shape of the twin tubers in some species. Forget-Me-Not — Oh these are such cute little flowers, I like the illustration. The origin is heartbreaking though from a Germanic folktale that ends in death. A Bouquet for Forgotten Obligations — Columbine for foolishness, Rue for regret, Anemone for forsaken love, Forget-me-not to indicate you won't forget again fastened with a green garland.

Floriography: The Language of Flowers Ultimate Guide to Floriography: The Language of Flowers

Pansies were particularly popular during Elizabethan times when they were known as ‘heartsease’, a name which is sometimes still used today. Pansies were also mentioned by Shakespeare in The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. They have a way of brightly lifting a garden when in flower, and you can see many pansies in a variety of bright colours used in our spring bedding schemes across several gardens. The name ‘pansies’ comes from the French ‘penseés’, meaning thoughts. So to court someone with pansies, was a way of letting them know you were thinking of them – and hoping they were thinking of you, too. Ancient Egyptian culture: Daffodils were found near graves in Egypt and might have been associated with death. This tradition of selecting flowers with special sentiments and meanings for wedding bouquets has been a tradition for thousands of years. The porte-bouquet fad caught on in England a little later in the 1700s or early 1800s, but the tiny handheld flower vase was called a tussie-mussie. From there, it spread to other European countries and eventually the USA.

Red tulips also send a romantic (and passionate) message. To the Victorians, a red tulip was a declaration of love. Looking for something a bit different? Tell someone you desire them by sending a bouquet of jonquils. These spring bloomers send a message of longing and desire, as well as the message that you want someone to love you. Most historians agree that the floriography fad of assigning meanings to flowers as a way of communicating was most likely introduced to Europe by Aubry de la Mottraye and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, both of whom lived in Turkey in the 1700s at different times. Sélam: the secret Harem language Lavender — I didn't expect lavender to have a negative connotation, distrust. It's to do with asps hiding in them.