Damai
(Indonesian for "Peace")
Today I will continue to discuss the Victorian language of flowers,
and the November Flower of the Month:
the Chrysanthemum
Just as many of the previous flowers we have looked at,
the chrysanthemum has several slightly varying meanings
depending on who you consult.
A red chrysanthemum symbolizes 'love'.
Another source states that a red mum stands for 'sharing'.
Hmmm..., okay.
A yellow mum symbolizes 'neglected love', or 'platonic love'.
'Platonic Love' is described as a 'just friends' type of love.
The Society of American Florists has specified that
bronze mums symbolize 'excitement'.
Hmmm, can't find that anywhere else,
and besides, just what the heck is a bronze mum?
They do come in a rainbow variety of colors, but I'm not sure I would say
any of them are 'bronze'. Rust, yes. Orange, yes.
Oh well!
Who am I to fuss with experts, right?
:0)
A white mum symbolizes 'truth' and 'devoted love'.
The Society of American Florists agree that a white mum stands for 'truth'.
Next, we have the traditional symbolism of any color chrysanthemum.
Teleflora says that the mum is a 'symbol of the sun',
and that it symbolizes 'optimism' and 'happiness'.
Now, if you are sending mums to those grieving the death of a loved one,
and they are in Europe,
sending mums is an expression of 'sympathy'.
In Asian cultures, mums are 'a symbol of life'.
In 1920 Japan declared the chrysanthemum as its' national flower.
The mum is honored yearly during the Festival of Happiness.
The mum is an honored flower and adorns many family crests of nobility.
The mum is the emblem of the Japanese emperor.
vintage soap label
Generally, the mum is second only to the rose in its' popularity.
It is believed that a mum petal inside the bottom of a wine glass
ensures a healthy and long life.
an embroidery transfer from turkeyfeathers
The mum also represents fidelity, long life
and joy.
They represent love, praise and admiration.
'Golden Autumn with brown birds' painting by Qin Xing,
a Chinese painter.
Confucius suggested they be used as an object of meditation.
The chrysanthemum originated in China as a flowering herb,
and Confucius is the first to describe the mum in his writings.
From 365 AD - 427 AD, T'ao Yuan Ming improved on mum cultivation techniques.
Today we have over 200 varieties, shapes, and colors!
Now, in the 4th century mums reach Japan.
Japan closely guarded the secrets of mums and cultivation for the next
1,500 years!!
In the mid-19th century mums finally made it to Europe, and then England.
From there they made their way across the Atlantic to the Americas.
Quite the long history.
I bet there's a very interesting story behind that first mum that reached Japan
in the 4th century!
Teleflora tells us that the Japanese consider the orderly unfolding of the petals of a chrysanthemum represents perfection.
cool!
Well, that almost makes a book about mums!
Hope you have enjoyed the long history and many meanings of
the chrysanthemum.
Okay, I just have to share with you these last two things!
First, a Scott Joplin song -
c.1904
and I have to get in at least one fairy.....
Have a wonderful autumn day, with mums!
;0)
inkspired
