by janet

by Janet Clark

Valentine’s Day is a holiday which is celebrated in many places around the world, as I learned today from my students in the English as a Second Language class. In Bosnia, it’s called “Valentino Day,” and in Sudan, it’s “Eden Hope.” Whatever you call the holiday, it’s a happy, light-hearted one. (Unless it’s not, but we won’t go there!) Kids cut out doily hearts to give to Mom, romantic partners exchange gifts and everybody gobbles down the chocolate. And flower sales balloon like they were fueled with helium.

Red roses are the traditional sign of love and are usually a top seller on Valentine’s Day. Red, a sign for hearts, for love, for passion; red roses signify deep love and devotion. But they’re not the only flowers that mean “love.” After reading “The Language of Flowers” not long ago, I got interested in the meanings people subscribed to flowers, and I found many different flowers speak to the different aspects of love.

Most people know that yellow roses are a sign of friendship, but did you know that giving someone a spider flower means “Elope with Me?” If you have a secret love for someone, give them a gardenia, or maybe a bouquet with gardenias and pink camellias, which mean “I’m Longing for You,” and acacia, a sign of concealed love. For the long-married, a sweet pairing would be lilies of the valley, which mean “You’ve Made My Life Complete,” and forget-me-nots, which stand for loving memories.  Tulips are an ardent expression of love; the general meaning is “Perfect Lover,” while red tulips are a declaration of love and yellow means “There’s Sunshine in Your Smile.”

There are a few flowers to avoid unless you want to risk alienating your loved one. If a guy gives a girl a bachelor’s button, he’s celebrating his singleness, so don’t look for a ring to follow. A bouquet of pink larkspurs (fickleness), snapdragons (deception) and purple carnations (capriciousness) doesn’t bode well for the future. And a few flowers are just scary, or at least their meanings are: oleanders stand for caution, marigolds for cruelty, begonias mean “Beware” and poppies? Eternal sleep.  If you find one of those in your Valentine bouquet, better rethink the relationship and fast.

When in doubt, you really can’t go wrong with roses!