WELCOME!
All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam
Back several years ago I started doing blogs
with flower themes.
The Language of Flowers
is what Victorian era people called it.
The Flower Language has been with us since,
with a few modifications to make it current.
In past blogs I have featured -
Pansy
Lilac
Columbine
Chrysanthemum
Cosmos
Aster
Morning Glory
Poppy
Water Lily
Gladiolus
Bird of Paradise
Delphinium
Red Rose
Wild Prairie Rose
Rose
Apple Blossom
Lily of the Valley
Lily
Cherry Blossoms,
both Japanese and Chinese varieties
Whew! Quite a list!
The blogs are found in the years 2011-2012 mostly.
Posted by Urban Farmer
So just what is the Language of Flowers?
From the Victorian period
and author from Victorian England.
Each flower was assigned a meaning, anywhere from 1 - 4 meanings per flower, but usually just 1 or 2.
Not sure which antique book this was taken from.
Just briefly scanning a few I found publishing dates of 1852, 1864, etc.
In the Victorian Era there were a LOT of rules everyone had to follow. Each ‘class’ of people had their own specific roles with rules and punishments.
Vintage advertising card
Courtesy: Rhapsody in Books Weblog
There were many things that just
‘were not talked about’.
Hush-hush secrets that left many in the dark as to life’s
normal, regular happenings, events and changes.
Romance was made into a Big Secret
where common communication was not allowed.
Don’t ask me why.
I guess ignorance and lack of knowledge was...
ummm, attractive? Romantic?
So
if a young man wanted to let his current crush know his feelings for her, or arrange a meeting
he had to be subtle.
There were guardians and parents and even big brothers
and uncles to get past to leave a love note.
This is where flower language comes in to play!
By simply giving a small bunch of flowers to his lady love
the suitor was able to reveal his feelings -
(I love you! You are a delicate flower
Keeping me from sleep at nights!
Shall we meet at the library at 1 o’clock?)
She could reply right then by tossing the flowers aside,
Or fussing with them, placing them in water,
Or untie the ribbons and casually drop them on the floor.
Each action meant something different,
all without a single word being spoken.
Published in Baltimore, USA, c.1855
Of course the adults knew all about
the Language of Flowers,
but by pretending to not know,
and looking the other way, it was socially acceptable.
If a parent did not want undesirable suitors
it was also easy to discourage them
because the ‘secret language’ was in fact
not secret!
and they knew which suitors to weed out.
Vintage song sheet cover
Courtesy Indiana Music Library
This language of flowers became so popular that
companies started using it in their ad campaigns.
Flyers and song sheets,
playing cards, postcards, cigarette wrappers -
anything might be used for flower illustrations
complete with its’ meanings.
Victorianquiltdesigns.com
Antique greeting card
Notice the different flowers the sweet
Birthday girl is both wearing, and carrying.
Let’s try to decipher what she is really saying!
Red Rose - fidelity, loyal support, love
Yellow Chrysanthemum - fidelity
Or Yellow Dahlia - dignity
(I can’t tell which flower it is)
Basket of Lilacs - first emotions of love
My interpretation might be:
You are my first love;
I give you my sincere loyal support & love.
What do you think?
Want to try your hand at another?
Check out the charts and lists I have already posted.
Here are a few more:
Courtesy of World Of Flowering Plants
Here you go!
Fun? Here’s another one!
I’m not sure if blogger is updating,
Or my iPad is being super-fussy
But I’ve been working on this blog for
Days!!
Let’s call it complete,
and perhaps the fussy bits giving me a headache
will resolve themselves!
Hey, so I’m optimistic, okay?
😁
‘Til next time,
inkspired
Truth
(usually discovered before 10 am or before coffee)-
Ignoring the new Dog
Who wants to Play at 7:30am
Every day
Will not Deter Her.
She will continue pestering you
Until Her Will is Done.
Woof.
She Who Must Be Obeyed...
Each flower was assigned a meaning, anywhere from 1 - 4 meanings per flower, but usually just 1 or 2.
Just briefly scanning a few I found publishing dates of 1852, 1864, etc.
In the Victorian Era there were a LOT of rules everyone had to follow. Each ‘class’ of people had their own specific roles with rules and punishments.
Courtesy: Rhapsody in Books Weblog
There were many things that just
‘were not talked about’.
Hush-hush secrets that left many in the dark as to life’s
normal, regular happenings, events and changes.
Romance was made into a Big Secret
where common communication was not allowed.
Don’t ask me why.
I guess ignorance and lack of knowledge was...
ummm, attractive? Romantic?
So
if a young man wanted to let his current crush know his feelings for her, or arrange a meeting
he had to be subtle.
There were guardians and parents and even big brothers
and uncles to get past to leave a love note.
All I could find out about this page is it is from
a Chase and Sanborn ad leaflet
By simply giving a small bunch of flowers to his lady love
the suitor was able to reveal his feelings -
(I love you! You are a delicate flower
Keeping me from sleep at nights!
Shall we meet at the library at 1 o’clock?)
She could reply right then by tossing the flowers aside,
Or fussing with them, placing them in water,
Or untie the ribbons and casually drop them on the floor.
Each action meant something different,
all without a single word being spoken.
Of course the adults knew all about
the Language of Flowers,
but by pretending to not know,
and looking the other way, it was socially acceptable.
If a parent did not want undesirable suitors
it was also easy to discourage them
because the ‘secret language’ was in fact
not secret!
and they knew which suitors to weed out.
Courtesy Indiana Music Library
This language of flowers became so popular that
companies started using it in their ad campaigns.
Flyers and song sheets,
playing cards, postcards, cigarette wrappers -
anything might be used for flower illustrations
complete with its’ meanings.
Notice the different flowers the sweet
Birthday girl is both wearing, and carrying.
Let’s try to decipher what she is really saying!
Red Rose - fidelity, loyal support, love
Yellow Chrysanthemum - fidelity
Or Yellow Dahlia - dignity
(I can’t tell which flower it is)
Basket of Lilacs - first emotions of love
My interpretation might be:
You are my first love;
I give you my sincere loyal support & love.
German, anonymous, 20th century
Courtesy Metropolitan Museum of Art
What do you think?
Want to try your hand at another?
Check out the charts and lists I have already posted.
Here are a few more:
Here you go!
Fun? Here’s another one!
I’m not sure if blogger is updating,
Or my iPad is being super-fussy
But I’ve been working on this blog for
Days!!
Let’s call it complete,
and perhaps the fussy bits giving me a headache
will resolve themselves!
Hey, so I’m optimistic, okay?
😁
‘Til next time,
inkspired
Truth
(usually discovered before 10 am or before coffee)-
Ignoring the new Dog
Who wants to Play at 7:30am
Every day
Will not Deter Her.
She will continue pestering you
Until Her Will is Done.
Woof.
No comments:
Post a Comment