The enchanting essence and ethereal beauty of flowers has fascinated humans since time immemorial. Somewhere along the way people began saying it with flowers when they couldn't find the words to explain how they felt. Even today people turn to flowers when unable to express their deepest emotions. A gift of flowers is greatly appreciated not just for its beauty but because it has the power to lift one's spirits.
Flowers are an integral part of life in every culture around the world. No wedding is complete without flowers. In the West the wedding venue is flooded with flowers. The bride and her bridesmaids carry bouquets while the groom and others in the wedding party wear flowers as boutonnieres and corsages. In some Eastern cultures the bride and groom are wedded under a canopy of flowers. Most brides wear floral garlands or have flowers in their hair.
The red rose is universally considered the enduring symbol of love. When a man hands a woman a red rose, he doesn't need to explain how he feels. Also frequently used to express love and admiration are red carnations, chrysanthemums and tulips. Gifting flowers is the preferred way to share in the happiness of someone celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a wedding or the birth of a child. White flowers, which are associated with purity, are commonly used to express condolences on someone's death.
Each flower carries a subtle message - some flattering and others not. The language of flowers is complicated and there is little agreement on their meanings. A daisy is believed to represent innocence and a single daffodil misfortune. But a bunch of daffodils represents happiness. Except a few though, most flowers are today chosen merely for their beauty.
There are also birthflowers associated with each month. Carnation and snowdrop representing constancy are the birthflowers for January; violet and primrose denoting sincerity for February; jonquil and daffodil representing courage for March; sweet pea and daisy denoting innocence for April; lily of the valley representing love for May; rose and honeysuckle denoting health for June; larkspur and water lily representing contentment for July; gladiolus and poppy denoting happiness for August; aster and morning glory representing clear thinking for September; marigold denoting hope for October; chrysanthemum representing fidelity for November; and finally narcissus and holly denoting prosperity for December.
