4. The language of flowers

Flower
/ˈflaʊə/ noun
The seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs (stamens and carpels) that are typically surrounded by a brightly coloured corolla (petals) and a green calyx (sepals).

     One of my favourite interests from the Victorian era (1820-1880) is definitely the language of flowers. I find that only the people that know the meaning can communicate with them and that's what makes them so special. Historically speaking, the language of flowers finds its roots in the Court of Constantinople, in Ottoman Turkey during the 18th century. During the first half of the century, the Court of Constantinople was obsessed with Tulips so much that this era received the name of "The Tulip Era".

    Finally, Mary Wortley Montagu, English aristocrat and wife to the British ambassador in Turkey, brought it to England in 1717. The first published list was "Dictionnaire du language des fleurs" by Joseph Hammer-Purgstall's in 1809. 

Mary Wortley Montagu

   

The Ottoman Tulip Era

    In literature, many famous writers used the language of flowers, such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Charlotte and Emily Brontë, among others. It is said that Shakespeare used the language of flowers more than 100 times in his writings, for example, in Hamlet Ophelia explains the meanings of some flowers and in A midsummer night's dream, Oberon talks to Puck in a field of wildflowers, which represent joy. The language of flowers is even used in Harry Potter when Snape asks Harry: ‘Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?’. Turns out, according to Victorian Flower Language, Asphodel is a type of Lily that means ‘My regrets follow you to the grave’ and wormwood means ‘absence’ and also typically symbolised bitter sorrow. If you combined that, it meant ‘I bitterly regret Lily’s death’ (Lily being Harry's mother and Snape's platonic love).

    Some of the flowers and their meanings that I want to highlight are:

• Yellow Marquerite: I come soon.
• Wild Rose: Pleasure and pain.
• Yellow Pansy: Thinking of you.
• Poppy: I am not free.
• Pink: Yes.
• White Rose: I cannot.
• Red Tulip: I declare my love.
• Cornflower: Be gentle with me.
• Red Carnation: My heart aches for you.
• Daisy: I love you truly.
• White lily: My love is pure.
• Canterbury Bell: Your letter received.
• Apple Blossom: I prefer you before all.

    Personally speaking, I wish this could be brought back because it's absolutely beautiful how each meaning can be used for different occasions and still be specific and send such a clear message even though they can be openly interpreted.