Flowers arrangements have always delivered some kind of meaningful message to the recipient from the person who sent them. In many cultures, people believe that each flower has its character and soul, thanks to which a special meaning can be given to the message. In some cases it was a wish for health and blessings, in others, it was a confession of the deepest feelings. We know about modern criteria, such as when, how many, and what flowers should be given on certain occasions, but few people know where this touching tradition comes from. Just because this custom seems to be a very commonplace activity, it was not always and not everywhere the same way we imagine it today. These messages also had negative interpretations in different countries. Experts from Flove.ae flower delivery service in Dubai helped us to figure it out.
We may remember the symbolism behind the colors, but even the fact of presenting a bouquet as a gift used to be a bad sign. For example, in some Slavic countries, until the eighteenth century, it was not customary to give flowers, because it was a bad omen: cut flowers were considered dead, and therefore it was forbidden to give them to somebody or keep them at home. However, flowers in the form of wreaths, as well as in dry form, were used for various rituals and were also considered talismans. And at a wedding, wreaths were the main attribute in the ceremony. In medieval England, aromatic oils were made from flowers and used as perfumes and aromas.
Still, even today not all flowers are to be presented in some countries: in China, for instance, lilies and chrysanthemums, especially white ones, are an attribute of funerals, so you should not present them as a gift in other circumstances. Therefore, be careful when choosing a bouquet while traveling.
On the contrary, in Egypt, for example, according to historians, flowers began to be sold already in ancient times. From ancient papyri, it was found out that even then sales were carried out on a large scale, and the flowers themselves were in great demand. And remembering the tulip fever in the Netherlands, which, however, happened in the seventeenth century: tulips, whose petals often change color due to a virus (this has been proven by modern research), became a real currency, because with this “miracle” one could pay for the purchase the whole house.
The most popular version of such a positive tradition emergence of giving flower bouquets, which most closely resembles the modern way, is the custom of giving flowers in European countries. This was accepted among royal dynasties. First, wicker crowns that were made in Greece and Rome became the prototype of the crown in the attire of monarchs. Then, it was fashionable to arrange a garden with lovely plants of all kinds. It was from there that flowers were taken to decorate royal interiors, which later started a trend of decorating rooms in certain tones, depending on the type of event.
And with the help of “floriography”, which was originally invented in the Ottoman Empire, young people in Europe sent secret messages using flower arrangements to their beloved. Bouquets were used in many countries and under different circumstances, and precisely to convey a secret message, including during wars. The same can be said about the present time: flowers surround us at all festive events – they are given to confess, thank, and congratulate. And often flower arrangements become an attribute of everyday decor – it is increasingly becoming fashionable to use fresh flowers in the interior. Just like kings and queens!
And to feel like royalty yourself, you just need to choose a bouquet. The flower delivery service Flove.ae will help you with this. The service’s collection contains the most delicate and charming bouquets, collected with love and care. The award-winning florists behind the collection were inspired by women from different cultures who have left their mark on world history and are making that history right now. Their gorgeous flower arrangements comply with the main rule of giving – they have a symbolic meaning.
Let yourself be a part of that culture and tradition with Flove.ae.