Carnation Flowers
The Secret Symbolism Of Carnation Flowers
The world over, carnation flowers have meant a great deal to countless cultures and countries for many centuries. Each color, and each striped variety, carries with it a feeling and a message, some much more common and widely known than others. Worn on special occasions, sometimes close to the heart or even as a corsage, the carnation flower brings everything from hope to appreciation for the recipient. In Korea, where Mothers Day and Fathers Day are intertwined and celebrated on a holiday called Parents Day, a corsage made from the carnation flower is worn on the left chest as a sign of appreciation and adoration.
Named for one of the most beloved Roman gods, the carnation flower has been called Jove’s Flower for over four thousand years. The origin of the carnation is somewhat mysterious, but thought to be of Mediterranean decent and a wild relative of the much more simplistic garden carnation. Vast cultivation and development of the carnation flower has been going on for over 2 thousand years, making it difficult to pinpoint its exact birthplace. In Christian legend, the pink carnation flower grew where the tears of the Virgin Mary fell at the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. This color strain has since become the widespread symbol for the pure and enduring love of a mother for her children.
The carnation flower is also the international botanical symbol of Spain and the state flower of Ohio. Brilliant reds are the sign of extreme devotion, while lighter reds denote love and affection. The striped versions of the carnation are meant to express deep regret for a love which cannot be shared or returned, and could therefore be quipped as the breakup flower. Fortunately, this is not a widely known or adhered to in the western world, so don’t be too upset should you receive a bouquet of beautiful striped carnations. There is a purple version of the carnation flower which is popularly used in funeral bouquets in France as well.
These beautiful and unique flowers also symbolize exam progress at such major universities as Oxford. Depending upon the exam and how important it is, the white carnation tends to represent the first exam, the pink to denote the second, and the red to celebrate the completion and success of the third exam. The Irish have the green carnation flower, and the Portuguese Carnation Revolution is celebrated annually. This flower will outlast any other after cutting, and trimming the tip of the stalk in a diagonal pattern every couple of days will help it to endure even longer. Hardy, infamous, and one of a kind, the carnation is constantly being reinvented for color and size.