by Rena Sherwood

Created on: April 10, 2008

Humans have always been fascinated with flowers. Their graceful beauty sprouting from the dirt and their brevity of life seem to be the perfect symbol of life itself. Over the millennia, certain flowers have become archetypes for certain nations, religions or feelings. Flowers have been entwined in human civilization for so long, that they have almost universal meanings.

Heritage

Some flowers whether artificial or real are proudly worn by the citizens of certain countries. The daffodil is the flower of Wales. The rose is the flower of England. The thistle is the flower of Scotland. The shamrock is the "flower" of Ireland. The Eucalyptus is the symbol of Tasmania. And who can see a tulip and not think of the Dutch! Wearing them can show pride in the wearer's heritage.

Religions

Some flowers can symbolize religious beliefs. Flowers have been seen by millennia as the perfect offering for gods, ancestors and spirit guardians. That is one reason why it is customary to give flowers as gifts today.

Certain flowers are the smells or flowers of particular gods, goddesses or saints. Roses are the flowers of all love goddesses like Aphrodite or Venus, but it is also the flower of the Virgin Mary. Lotus flowers were beloved by the Buddha, and so has become the symbol of enlightenment for Buddhists. It is also one of the most beloved of religious symbols for Hinduism (the parent religion of Buddhism).

Femininity

Because of their curved beauty, softness and bright colors, many societies associate flowers with femaleness. Wearing or giving flowers can show that you are in touch with your feminine side, or are trying to attract the attention of females, whether they are goddesses or mortal women.

Colors

A lot of people pick a flower, or flower-shaped jewelry, or clothes with flower design on them, simply for the color. Here's what some of the most popular colors reveal about you might be feeling or what kind of image you are trying to project to the rest of the world:

White You are trying to be innocent, "pure as the driven snow" and generally a good, truthful and trustworthy person. White is also seen as a color for the spiritually enlightened.
Yellow You are a happy person, creative, with lots of energy a "sunny" personality.
Orange You also have creative energy, but are more focused on getting any job done. You are also passionate, but not as threateningly passionate as red might indicate.
Red - You are passionate, romantic, and generally swept by strong emotions. Some women choose to wear red during the times they are menstruating without being aware of their choice!
Pink You are sweet, gentile and childlike. Pink is often a color associated with children, so some like to wear pink to make them appear younger than they are.
Blue You are intelligent, open to new ideas and sensible. Blue is also considered a masculine color.
Purple You are mysterious but basically trustworthy. You like to discover things and learn all the time.

As you can see, a little flower can pack a huge meaning.

Learn more about this author, Rena Sherwood.
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