by T. GISKI

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: March 12, 2009

The Easter Lily (Lilium longiflorum) is a flower revered by many cultures for its intrinsic beauty and perfume. Sometimes referred to as the Sacred Nouveau, or the "Sacred New" and most often associated with the Christian Easter celebration, it is a sign of spring and of the promise of everlasting life. Their beautiful white petals adorn alters, and church doors, as well as attach to corsages of the women who attend the church services.

It is possible that like many symbols in Christianity, the Lily was adopted, or borrowed, from the Pagan deities and symbolism in order to passively and un-noticeably incorporate a new religious belief or system into a society that already had such a belief system in place. While the origin cannot be determined exactly, it is known that in Judaism, the Old Testament writings (those that preceded the birth of Christ in modern Christianity) mentioned the lily. In fact, mention of the lily can be attributed to another early source as well. Roman mythology mentions the beauty of the lily in stories of Venus, goddess beauty. Greek mythology legends depict the flower as being born of Hera, Queen of the Greek Gods. Their white color and delicate curved lines made them a natural choice to symbolize purity and virtue; which is one of the reasons that the Lily often represents females, and in Christianity in particular, Mary, a woman born without original sin and chosen to be Mother to Jesus by God Himself. It is said that the lily represented Her purity, and is mentioned in the scripture passages of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel presented a lily along with the message from God that she would bare His Son, the Christ. The trumpet shape can also be said to be a herald to good news that will be forth-coming.

It is also possible, that with it's beauty and perennial nature (the flowers bloom year after year once planted) that the Lily came to symbolize a sort of "rising" or "eternal life": a notion that is the basis for Christianity and the Easter season itself. Jesus Christ, born of a Virgin, Mary, believed to die for the sins of humanity on the cross on Good Friday and rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. The belief continues, that after His Ascension into Heaven, followers wait for His eventual return to earth.

The latter theory would explain the Victorian use of lilies on cemetery headstones, and the current use of the lily as funeral flowers. When introduced to American, in the late 1800's, the period style was that of Art Nouveau, or a style known for its natural forms, delicate curves and dynamic images. The idea that they represent a "resurrection" of sorts, and a continuation of "life" after and apparent wilting or death is a perfect correlation. The delicate-looking petals of the lily may fall and seemingly die, as the next spring arrives, so does a new sprout from which forth another fresh and lovely lily will bloom.

References: http://www.teleflora.com/about-flowers/lily.asp

www.h umanflowerproject.com

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