Anniversary flowers: how do you choose?

Anniversary Flowers: What Should You Give?

Without a doubt, the most celebrated anniversary of all is the Wedding Anniversary and there is no better way to express your feelings than by giving flowers. Who can stop getting excited when you open the door and find a bouquet or arrangement complete with a romantic note? Certainly, when it comes to women, romance is not complete without flowers; but there are so many, how do you choose? One way is to look at the anniversary itself and draw inspiration from tradition. Flowers alone are a lovely gift, flowers you’ve thought of are even better.

Before the 1930s, only anniversaries 1, 10, 20, 25, 50 and 70 had a material and flower assigned, however over the years more have been added, these are the traditional ones with which most people are familiar.

1st – Carnation: Symbol of pride and beauty. Also known as a paper anniversary.

The goddess Artemis was returning home from a few unsuccessful days hunting when she met a shepherd who played the flute. She was angry, accused him of scaring animals and gouged out his eyes. But then he realized how hideous he had done and cast his eyes to the ground and carnations grew in their place.

2nd – Lilly del Valle: Symbol of the Purity of the Heart. Also known as the cotton anniversary.

The Lili del Valle was created from the tears of Eva when she was expelled from the Garden of Eden.

3rd – Sunflower: Symbol of pure thoughts and dedicated love. Also known as the anniversary of leather.

Clytie, the nymph, was so sad when Helios, the Sun God, did not return her love that she sat on the ground day and night watching him ride his chariot through the sky until finally her limbs began to take root in the earth and became the flower we know today as the sunflower.

4th – Hydrangea: Symbol of felt emotions. Also known as linen anniversary.

Discovered for the first time in Japan, the name hydrangea comes from the Greek ‘hyder’ which means water and ‘angos’ which means a jug or a container, this roughly translates as’ barrel of water’, referring to hydrangeas’ need for much water.

5th – Margarita: Symbol of loyal love and joy. Also known as a wooden anniversary.

The daisy is said to have flowed from the tears of Mary Magdalene at the crucifixion of Christ.

6th – Calla Lilly. Symbol of magnificence and beauty. Also known as the iron anniversary.

In ancient Rome, the Calla Lilly was associated with the winter solstice and flowers were forced to bloom indoors during the darkest time of year to celebrate the preservation of light. At the beginning of the 20th century they were thought to be the funeral flower, but later it was associated with weddings.

7th – Freesia: symbol of innocence and consideration. Also known as the copper anniversary.

Freesias date back about 200 years in South Africa. These fragrant flowers got their name when Dr. Christian Ecklan named them after his friend the German botanist Frederich HT Freese.

8th – Lilac: symbol of youthful innocence. Also known as the ceramic anniversary.

Lila got its name from the Greek word ‘syrinx’ which means ‘pipe’ because lumberjacks made their pipes from lilac.

9 – Bird of Paradise Flower: Symbol of joy and magnificence. Also known as the willow anniversary.

The bird of paradise is known as the crane flower in its native South Africa. It is named after the royal birds of paradise, which are the most beautiful birds in the world, with their brightly colored plumage and fan-shaped tails.

10th – Narcissus: Symbol of new beginnings and eternal life. Also known as can

anniversary.

One of the most popular spring flowers. Always give them in a bunch, never a single flower, which means bad luck.

11 – Tulip: Symbol of the declaration of love. Also known as the anniversary of steel.

The most popular spring flower of all time, known for its many colors, heights, and shapes.

12 – Peony: Symbol of happy marriage and good health. Also known as the anniversary of the silk.

Paeon was a student of Asclepius, god of medicine and healing. Leto, goddess of fertility, taught her how to obtain a magic root that would ease the pain of women during childbirth. But Asclepius was jealous and threatened to kill his student. Zeus saved Paeon by turning him into a peony flower.

13 – Chrysanthemum: symbol of fidelity and optimism, also known as lace anniversary.

Confucius first wrote about the chrysanthemum in 500 BC. Until recently it was the flower of the nobles and the commoners could not cultivate it. They are one of the ‘Four Most Elegant Plants’ in China, the others being orchids, bamboo and ume. The Chinese say; If you want to be happy for life, grow chrysanthemums.

14 – Dalia: Symbol of dignity and good taste. Also known as the Ivory Anniversary.

An ancient legend tells that dahlias appeared in the place where the last fire was extinguished before the Ice Age. Dahlias’s birth became a sign of hope that life and happiness would eventually return.

15 – Pink. Symbol of love, passion and perfection. Also known as a crystal anniversary.

The rose in all its varieties remains the most popular flower in the world and is considered the symbol of love.

20 – Aster: Symbol of patience and love for variety. Also known as China Anniversary.

The Aster arose from the tears of Alsterea, goddess of the ‘starry sky’ who cried when she did not see any stars when she looked towards Earth.

25 – Iris: Symbol of valued wisdom and friendship. Also known as a silver anniversary.

The Iris was named after Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow and messenger of the Gods.

30 – Lily: Symbol of purity and refined beauty. Also known as the pearl anniversary.

Dedicated to the goddess Hera, the lily was an important flower throughout the ancient world. Lilies were carved on the walls of Solomon’s temple, which are frequently mentioned in the Bible and are a sacred flower to the Minoans. According to legend, when Hera threw the baby Hercules to him, her breast milk splashed the skies forming the Milky Way, but a few drops fell to the earth and from them the first lilies sprouted.

40 – Gladiolus: Symbol of strength of character. Also known as ruby ​​anniversary.

Svet and Terres were two Thracian warriors who were ordered to fight each other in the Colosseum in Rome before becoming gladiators. The winner would marry the commander’s daughter, but they plunged their swords into the ground and refused to fight. The crowd was displeased and the pair were executed, but when their bodies touched the ground, two Gladioli emerged from the handles of their swords.

50º – Violeta: Symbol of modesty, fidelity and innocence. Also known as a golden anniversary.

Napoleon’s Josephine wore a necklace of violets on her wedding day and Napoleon sent her a bouquet of violets every year on her anniversary.

60th – Also known as diamond anniversary.

There is no specific flower for the 60th anniversary, but the last few years have seen the rise of some lovely customs.

1. A bouquet of different types of white flower, one flower for each year.

2. Gifts of roses or other appropriately named plants for the garden, such as the ‘Diamond Wedding’ lavender rose or the perfectly named Agapanthus (Greek for ‘flower of love’ in the ‘double diamond’ variety.

3. Sometimes the gifts flow backwards, the children combine to buy their parents an important gift, while the happy couple give plants to the children and grandchildren as a permanent reminder of the occasion.

The 60th anniversary celebration became popular when Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greek ‘adamas’ which means invincible and durable. Many believe that the “fire” in the diamond symbolizes the constant flame of love.

70 – A beautiful bouquet. Also known as a platinum anniversary.

Not much has been written about this anniversary, but it is expected to be more common. Each and every one of the flowers is appropriate as a celebration of a very special relationship that has stood the test of time, but perhaps the best idea is to return to the symbolism of the wedding bouquet itself, perhaps to repeat the flowers that the bride brought back. so long. or give the orange blossom, symbol of eternal love.