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Cornell University : Cornell Cooperative Extension
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What Flowers Say on Valentine's
Day |
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February 13, 2002 February 14th is Valentine's Day. We celebrate it as a day to show love and affection. Has it always been celebrated as the day of romantic love? Historians can agree on one major point: no one is really sure how Valentine's Day got its start. There are almost as many stories about the beginning of St. Valentine's Day as there are storytellers. And, there are almost as many ways to celebrate this holiday. Some people believe that the celebration began when a priest (so named Valentine) secretly married soldiers and their sweethearts against the wishes of the cruel Roman Emperor Claudius. Claudius knew that if his soldiers married they would lose their fighting edge and want to return home. So he ordered them to remain single. Father Valentine, knowing this practice was unfair to the young lovers, began secret weddings. When Claudius found out what was happening, he had Valentine executed. Followers of Valentine buried his body in a churchyard in Rome and through the years stories of Valentine were retold. The pope declared that February 14th be St. Valentine's Day as a way to mix the Christian celebration with a pagan holiday that occurred on February 15th. Traditions of showing love were added as the time progressed. Another story tells of this priest, Valentine, being in jail for helping Christians. Claudius made sure that Father Valentine stopped this practice by having the priest beheaded. This cruel death was supposed to have occurred on February 14, 269 AD. Two hundred years later the pope declared the date as St. Valentine's Day. As stated earlier, there are many versions of how St. Valentine's Day actually began. Whatever is the true story, what is important now is that we do celebrate Valentine's Day! The word valentine was once a word that meant sweetheart. Gifts from the heart were given to lovers, mostly in the form of poetry. As time went on, the poems were placed on heart shaped paper, lace was added, and voila! The modern day valentine was born. More than cards are given now. Gifts of candy, jewelry and flowers tell sweethearts how much they are loved. When people think of a valentine flower, they usually think of roses, and red ones at that. That is because the rose is a symbol of love. The red rose signifies love that is pure and lovely, while the yellow rose is said to symbolize jealousy. There are as many stories about the rose as there are about the beginning of Valentine's day. Some of the stories involve the Roman gods and goddesses. Cupid is in many of these stories! The rose, though, is not the only flower that has a meaning and a story. Many other flowers are given on Valentine's Day because they, too, symbolize love and friendship. Nowadays
we use flowers to express many thoughts. People in Europe during the
18th century used to "say it with flowers" too. The gardenia
meant, "I love you in secret." When lilies of the valley
were sent, they meant, "Let us make up." Receiving Sweet
William meant your admirer thought you were "gallant, suave and
perfect." The rose was to have said, "I love you passionately"
and giving violets meant, "I return your love." Because they were thought to have been snowflakes that were changed to console Adam and Eve when they left the Garden of Eden, snowdrops are a symbol of hope. Many people today see them as hope that winter will soon be over. Hyacinths mean sorrow, while the crocus calls out good cheer. Buttercups are supposed to show wealth, while marigolds are symbols of happiness. Violets symbolize modesty and bluebells mean constancy. One source stated the daffodil represents joy and another uses it as a symbol of unrequited love. Many people use stephanotis in their wedding bouquets because this flower is supposed to mean happiness in marriage. The language and symbolism of flowers is fun and if your partner understands what you are saying when you give flowers as a gift, then the fun is truly increased. Happy Valentine's Day from all of the Master Gardeners associated with the Yates County Cooperative Extension! www.cce.cornell.edu/yates/mgindex.htm.
Cornell
Cooperative Extension Yates Association |
