History of Floriography

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Using flowers to convey a message, by giving meaning to each type of flower, dates back hundreds of years. Their meaning was influenced by legends, stories, cultural contexts, medical practices, and various symbols. But at the turn of the eighteenth century and into the Victorian Era, using the ‘language’ became popular.

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In 1763 the letters of Lady Mary Wortley were published, after she had died. Lady Mary had sent letters home from Constantinople, where she lived with her husband, explaining the customs of Turkish culture, specifically those of women. One of these practices was the ‘Language of Flowers’; she became very interested in this and began sending letters home to England explaining how this unique language was used. This custom had been used in Turkey since the fifteenth century, during the days of the Ottoman Empire. The language was used by the women of the Sultan’s harem (wives and concubines) as most of them were illiterate. During this period, the language was called ‘Selam’.

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One of the main reasons why this language became extremely popular among the upper class of the Victorian era was because there were specific behavioural expectations when socializing. In those days, people believed that if women showed emotion, whether it be joy or sadness, it was a sign of weakness or of being uneducated. Not only that, but men were also encouraged not to show love towards their lovers and those with whom they wished to share their feelings.

 

As a result of this, the language of flowers became very popular. Some people referred to it as the ‘Secret Language of Flowers’ and the upper class, who owned elaborate gardens which produced all kinds of flowers, used them to create a range of secret messages which were delivered through their bouquets.

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As well as including messages within the bouquets there were specific ways of giving and receiving them. Here are some examples:

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• If someone really liked the other person, they would send one red rose to that person. But, if the other person did not feel the same as the sender, they would respond with a yellow carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus).

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• When a rose without thorns was given, it would say, “I fell in love at first sight.”

 

• If someone wanted to give a quick answer to a question that was asked in the bouquet, in order to say, “yes,” they would need to give the flowers back using the right hand. Returning them with the left hand said, “no.”

 

• When the bouquet was returned upside down, it conveyed the opposite of the message in the flowers.

 

• To convey that the relationship had come to an end, or to give a message conveying death, wilted flowers would be given.

 

These customs were to be found in a number of countries, but their meaning and significance varied from country to country.