flowers and their symbolism in death - gmct … · everlasting love buttercup: ... flowers and...
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ACACIA: Immortality of the soul, symbol of platonic love and concealed love, sacred tree of Christians and used to build the Ark
ACANTHUS: Heavenly garden, one of the oldest cemetery motifs. Acanthus is associated with the rock ground where most ancient Greek cemeteries were placed, symbolises immortality, enduring life
ANEMONE, GARDEN: Forsaken, symbol of brief blossoming and early death, anticipation, good luck
BALM: Sympathy, social intercourse, a healing plant
BELL FLOWER, WHITE: Gratitude, disappointment, loss, unchanging love, honesty and obedience
BLUEBELL: Constancy, humility and gratitude, constancy and everlasting love
BUTTERCUP: Cheerfulness, childishness, neatness
CALLA LILY: Symbolises marriage, holiness, faith, purity, associated with the Virgin Mary. As they flower in Spring they are also associated with youth and rebirth
FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH
When choosing flowers for a grave or a wreath people often prefer flowers that indicate a particularly rich and meaningful symbol or which were the preferred flowers of the deceased or their family. Many flowers have specific meanings in relation to death, as well as life, and these can sometimes change depending on the geographical region where they were originally grown. They can also change depending on religious contexts but mostly the symbolism noted below remains true.
DR JAN PENNEYGMCT Trust MemberApril 2016
FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH
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FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH
CAMPANULA: Gratitude, affection, long lasting love, constancy, humility and delicacy
CARNATION, RED: Beauty always new, admiration. Pink carnation is for remembrance, white carnation for love and innocence
CHRYSANTHEMUM: Love and death, lamentation and grief, Japanese national flower
CINQUEFOIL: Rose of Venus, maternal affection, beloved daughter, hope and joy, gladness
CLOVER, FOUR LEAF: Be mine, symbol of good luck and good fortune, three leaves is a symbol of the Trinity
CLOVER, WHITE: Think of me, be mine, vitality, healing
CONVOLVULUS, MAJOR: Extinguished hopes or eternal sleep, humble perseverance, uncertainty
CROCUS: Youthful gladness, first flower of spring, messenger of resurrection, cheerfulness and gladness
DAFFODIL: Death of youth, desire, art, grace, beauty, deep regard
DAISY: Innocence of child, Jesus the Infant, youth, the Son, righteousness, gentleness, purity of thought
DOGWOOD: Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection
FERN: Sincerity, sorrow, humility, symbol of New Zealand
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FORGET-ME-NOT: Remembrance, true love, remember me forever
GLADIOLI: Strength of character, sincerity, moral integrity, infatuation, also invoke the power of the Roman gladiators
HAWTHORN: Hope, merriness, springtime, strong and powerful, flower of May Day, symbol of abandonment and fertility
HEARTSEASE: I am always thinking of you, remembrance
HONESTY: Sincerity, honesty, unbounding love
HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection, flames of love, devoted attention
IRIS: Flame, passion, ardour, mother, symbol of life and the Christian Trinity
IVY: Memory, immortality, friendship, fidelity, faithfulness, undying affection, eternal life, marriage
JONQUIL: I hope for a return of affection, desire, return of affection, sorrow, domestic happiness
LAUREL: Special achievement, distinction, success, triumph, victory, evergreen memory of the deceased
LILY OF THE VALLEY: Return of happiness, purity of heart, humility, sweetness
LILY: Majesty, innocence, chastity, purity, and resurrection, humility and devotion, flower of death
FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH
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FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH
LOTUS: Creation and re birth, purity, chastity, rebirth, Buddhist symbol of good fortune
MARIGOLD: Grief or despair, associated with the Day of the Dead, leads souls to the home altar
MORNING GLORY: Resurrection, mourning, youth, farewell, brevity of life, departure, mortality
PANSY: Symbolises remembrance and humility, meditation
PASSION FLOWER: The elements of the passion of Christ, sacrifice, suffering and redemption; the lacy crown - the crown of thorns; the five stamens - the five wounds; the 10 petals - the 10 faithful Apostles
PERIWINKLE: Tender concern, flower of death, early friendship
POPPY: Peace, rest, sleep, eternal sleep, consolation (red poppies), sometimes associated with war related death
ROSE: Love, beauty, hope, unfailing love, associated with the Virgin Mary, the “rose without thorns”. A white rose ‘I am worthy of you’. A red rose symbolises martyrdom and a white rose symbolizes purity and virginity
ROSEMARY: Remembrance, love and death, often associated in Australia with war related death
SHAMROCK: Light-heartedness, the national symbol of Ireland
SNOWDROP: Hope, consolation and promise, death
STAR OF BETHLEHEM: Purity, atonement, reconciliation
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SWEET WILLIAM: Gallantry, finesse, grant me a smile
SUNFLOWER: Devotion to God, symbolic of gratitude and affectionate remembrances
THISTLE: Earthly sorrow and remembrance, Christ’s crown of thorns, Symbol of Scotland
TULIP: Declaration of love and passion
VIOLET, BLUE: Faithfulness, humility, true love
WHITE LILY: Purity and modesty
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DR JAN PENNEY BA, DIP ED, PHD
Jan is an historian with an interest in Aboriginal history, local history and the Murray River Region. Between 1998 and 2012 Jan was the Executive Chair of Mint Inc. and for several years has lectured at the tertiary level, including the Master of Public History course at Monash University. Jan was formerly CEO of the Goldfields Library Corporation, Bendigo and Director - Museums at Sovereign Hill Museums, Ballarat. She was also Chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria, taking a special interest in the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and archaeological sites as tourism components. Jan was appointed to The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust in 2010 and is a current Trust member.