Why Flowers?

By Susanne Kane

The practice of giving flowers is a societal way to express love, compassion, and thoughtfulness.

This custom is so powerful it can even help us communicate in times when we don't know what to say. But, where did this tradition come from?

It turns out, humans have been using flowers to express emotion for a very long time.

Ancient Egypt

Images from ancient Egypt depict flowers being offered to the deceased and laid in tombs. The Egyptians often made bouquets, wreaths, garlands, floral headdresses, and more for these occasions.

Greeks and Romans

The Greeks and Romans also believed flowers could be used to express emotion and status. The ancient Greeks gave floral crowns to the winners of contests and competitions to signify success and victory. In Ancient Rome, couples often conveyed their feelings by giving each other flowers, especially in the form of hair wreaths.

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages saw the rise of plant symbolism, and flowers were given and used to convey particular meanings. This tradition continued through the Renaissance and eventually into the Victorian Era, where it blossomed into floriography (cryptologic communication through flowers). The Victorians were so fascinated by this practice that they even had floral dictionaries to decode the messages they received through flower arrangements.

Modern Practices

Today, the art of giving flowers is a fusion of its intricate past. Similarly to the Egyptians, we find that flowers are a touching way to express condolences. We hope to brighten the day of our loved ones through floral gifts, just like the Greeks and the Romans. And, we associate certain flowers with particular emotions and meanings, just like those in the Middle Ages and the Victorian Era (i.e. the rise of the red rose). Just as our ancestors did before us, we continue to let flowers help us better connect with and speak to others.

So Why Flowers?

Because along with all the ways they help us express ourselves, they are an age-old tradition that we are continuing through time.