The story of the corsage

Do you remember getting your first corsage for your high school prom, or wearing an orchid on Easter or a carnation on Mother’s Day? Where do these traditions come from? When did people start wearing corsages? Many florists and flower experts present various compilations on the history of the corsage.

The word corsage comes from the same French word that refers to the bodice of a woman’s dress. Women wore flowers pinned to their bodice, usually in the center of the bodice, and that is why the flowers were known in French as “corsage bouquet.” The concept of bringing flowers for special occasions dates back much further in time than the 19th century in France. Many reports point out that in ancient Greece, brides and their attendants used lighted flowers to attract their wedding not only for a pleasant appearance, but also to provide a pleasant scent. The scent of the flowers was supposed to ward off evil spirits that could bring bad luck and displeasure to the marriage.

In the 17th century, men wore flowers on their clothes in order to protect themselves from evil spirits and disease. These individual flowers were called boutonnieres which, when translated into English, means “little buttonhole.” In the 17th century, a man could wear a boutonniere every day, but over time, the practice has been reserved for formal events such as weddings and other formal occasions.

Over time, the practice of wearing flowers in the center of a woman’s bodice first evolved into wearing small bouquets of flowers pinned to the shoulder of a dress or suit. A corsage should be worn on the left side because that side is closest to the heart.

In the early 1900s, the corsage was pinned upside down, with the bow holding the flowers together upward and the flowers pointing downward. This tradition is no longer so rigid and the corsage can be worn in any way that complements the attractiveness of the woman.

Since many formal prom dresses are now strapless or only have small spaghetti straps, the location of the corsage has changed and small bouquets can be worn on a wristband, on the hair, or less often on the ankle. For formal events and proms, the men’s boutonniere and the women’s corsage should match or at least complement each other to bring the couple’s look together.

The corsages are used not only at weddings and dances, but also at Easter, Mother’s Day and birthdays or any other occasion in which the man or family member wishes to show affection to the woman or girl and tell them that they are special . For Easter, an orchid is often the preferred flower for a corsage, but the wonderful sweet-smelling gardenia is also popular. A tradition that began in the early 1900s is to wear a red carnation on Mother’s Day if your mother is still alive, and to wear a white carnation if your mother has passed away. It is a beautiful tradition to honor the mother on this special day.

The origin of graduation corsages is fascinating. In the early 1900s, a young man brought a gift, often a bouquet of flowers, to his date’s parents when he picked her up for prom. Then he would take a flower from that bouquet and stick it to his date’s dress, and maybe he would take a flower for his lapel. This is believed to be the origin of the prom corsage, a must-have accessory for any couple attending high school prom today.