4 Historical Facts About Floral Gifts

If you're at a loss for gift ideas, the gift of flowers is a timeless one. From conveying condolences to telling someone you miss them, floral gifts are a way of communicating messages and demonstrating a relationship bond. The practice of giving flowers is nothing new and dates back to the pyramids. Here are some historical facts about floral gifts.

1. It Started With a Holy Purpose

The practice of floral gifts goes back to ancient times. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans loved giving flowers. At first, they used flowers to associate with gods and goddesses during religious rituals. According to ABC Flora, the Greeks gave flowers as offerings to the gods. Eventually, giving flowers had a meaning beyond religion.

2. Middle Ages Marked Symbolism

Symbolism came into play around the Middle Ages. The reason different flowers have so much symbolism is the ancient Turks put together the first list of flower symbolism. This list went beyond the Ottoman Empire and spread globally, and each culture continued to add its symbolism based on its beliefs.

3. It Symbolized Non Verbal Communication in Victorian Era

If you were alive during the Victorian era, you may have used flowers more so than today. During this era, stating feelings out loud was considered tasteless. Therefore, people relied on flowers for reliable, nonverbal communication. For example, the exchange of white roses represented purity and innocence, as it still does today. Another nonverbal communication that lasted is from red roses. Today, red roses are often given as a Valentine's Day gift between lovers. In the Victorian era, giving red roses was an easy way to say “I love you.”

4. It Still Has Special Meaning

Today, giving flowers as a gift is still a powerful and traditional option. People often give flowers as a way to express condolences after the death of a loved one. People may exchange yellow flowers as a way to symbolize friendship. These days, simply sending flowers is an unspoken way to say you're thinking of them.

As you can see, a simple flower gift can have many meanings depending on your relationship, the type of flower, and the event. For example, while lilies often represent purity, they can also represent condolences when sent for a funeral. Whether you need gifts for weddings, birthdays, sympathy, friends, or romance, look no further than our flower shop at Rose & Blossom. We're in Spokane Valley, Washington, and enjoy providing your floral needs. Contact us today!