Imagine having an intimate conversation with someone you love. Now imagine how that conversation would occur without speaking, or even writing. Imagine finding someone you'd very much like to know better. Suppose they're interested in you as well. Imagine getting that relationship off the ground without using words of any kind.
That was the situation during much of the 1800's in Victorian England. Extreme discretion was required. Emotional expression, especially if it was romantic in nature, was strictly taboo. Such thoughts couldn't even be whispered or written down. As a result people soon found other ways to express their thoughts and feelings. One popular way was to attach special meanings to flowers.
The result was "secret" messages hidden in bouquets of flowers. Different meanings were attached to every type and color of flower, how they were presented, and how they were received. Many of the messages were romantic in nature. Some messages were rejections, and even insults. An exchange of flowers became a complete conversation.
Together with the language of flowers, small bouquets, known as tussie-mussies, became a secret way to declare intentions and make refusals, acceptances and rejections. Flowers allowed Victorians a way to express their emotions and thoughts without speech or writing.
Eventually the symbolism became so complex that help was needed to decipher the messages. Dictionaries and even whole books were written to ensure that the messages were properly conveyed and clearly understood.
Before the Victorians, other cultures used flowers to express emotions. In ancient times cultures like the Greeks and Persians gave their own meanings to flowers. The Japanese too, created their own flower language. The exact meanings of the flowers and colors change over time to fit the needs of the culture but the use of flowers to express emotions continues to this day.
Many cultures had elaborate and lengthy courtship rituals. The giving and receiving of flowers was often an important part of the process. Those practices led to the prominent place of flowers in our modern culture. Valentines Day, Mothers Day, and Easter, among others, simply wouldn't be the same celebrations without flowers and plants.
We still use flowers to express our thoughts and emotions, although not in quite the same way as the Victorians. For Valentine's Day this year, rather than sending your loved one a simple "I love you" with roses, why not try a bouquet of mixed flowers with a hidden message? Search for the "language of flowers" online for ideas. Include a note about the hidden meaning of the flowers in the bouquet. Be sure to order your Valentine's Day flowers in advance to ensure a timely delivery. - 15437
That was the situation during much of the 1800's in Victorian England. Extreme discretion was required. Emotional expression, especially if it was romantic in nature, was strictly taboo. Such thoughts couldn't even be whispered or written down. As a result people soon found other ways to express their thoughts and feelings. One popular way was to attach special meanings to flowers.
The result was "secret" messages hidden in bouquets of flowers. Different meanings were attached to every type and color of flower, how they were presented, and how they were received. Many of the messages were romantic in nature. Some messages were rejections, and even insults. An exchange of flowers became a complete conversation.
Together with the language of flowers, small bouquets, known as tussie-mussies, became a secret way to declare intentions and make refusals, acceptances and rejections. Flowers allowed Victorians a way to express their emotions and thoughts without speech or writing.
Eventually the symbolism became so complex that help was needed to decipher the messages. Dictionaries and even whole books were written to ensure that the messages were properly conveyed and clearly understood.
Before the Victorians, other cultures used flowers to express emotions. In ancient times cultures like the Greeks and Persians gave their own meanings to flowers. The Japanese too, created their own flower language. The exact meanings of the flowers and colors change over time to fit the needs of the culture but the use of flowers to express emotions continues to this day.
Many cultures had elaborate and lengthy courtship rituals. The giving and receiving of flowers was often an important part of the process. Those practices led to the prominent place of flowers in our modern culture. Valentines Day, Mothers Day, and Easter, among others, simply wouldn't be the same celebrations without flowers and plants.
We still use flowers to express our thoughts and emotions, although not in quite the same way as the Victorians. For Valentine's Day this year, rather than sending your loved one a simple "I love you" with roses, why not try a bouquet of mixed flowers with a hidden message? Search for the "language of flowers" online for ideas. Include a note about the hidden meaning of the flowers in the bouquet. Be sure to order your Valentine's Day flowers in advance to ensure a timely delivery. - 15437
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