The history of Christmas Wreath tells us that the wreaths have their origin in the early times of pre-Christianity. The Eastern European people used to light up evergreen wreaths in the cold winter evenings with the hope of early spring and sunshine. This custom was kept up by the Christians and now, this is primarily a Catholic custom. This custom or tradition is followed during Advent.
Generally, there are four candles in a circle of evergreen with another candle in the middle. The symbolism of evergreen is the continuity of life and the prickly holly reminds one of the Cross. The circle of the wreath is without beginning or end meaning that God is eternal, soul immortal and life everlasting. The wreath is decorated with nuts, pinecones and other seedpods which symbolize resurrection and life. We find from the history of Christmas wreath either four white candles or three violet and one rose candle are used. Each day one candle is lighted and the middle candle is lighted on Christmas Eve to signify the arrival of Jesus. A short prayer can be held with the lighting of the candle. Families light up the Advent wreath when they are about to have dinner. The prayer is held after the blessing of the food. This is the time when the faithful reaffirm his belief in the tenets of Christianity.

There are different types of Christmas wreaths. The history of Christmas wreath tells us that the Advent wreath has a special place as it symbolizes belief, prayers and hopes. The other type is the decorative wreaths. These wreaths decorate the home or Christmas tree and are mainly ornamental.

Christmas flowers are a great way to brighten up the christmas table and bring some festivity to your home. Flowerangels have a great selection of christmas flowers and arrangements – Why not checkout our christmas flowers

Christmas flower delivery

Mother’s Day . . . Few of us are more than dimly aware of the history of our modern celebration of these extraordinary women. You can perhaps recall enouth of the history of Mother’s Day to know that it originated in the hills of Appalachia and is now celebrated in countries throughout the world. What you may not realize is that the founder of Mother’s Day eventually confessed that she regretted ever starting the tradition.

In the United States, Mother’s Day originated nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a “Mother’s Work Day” to raise awareness of poor economic and health conditions affecting the children in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers.

Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a pacifist, suffragist, and author of the lyrics to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” proposed an annual event called Mother’s Day, but the idea received little support. She organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace, since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else.

When Anna Jarvis died in 1905, her daughter (also named Anna) wished to create a memorial to her mother’s work and began a campaign to institute an official holiday to honor mothers. The first Mother’s Day observance was a church service honoring Anna’s mother and all mothers that Anna arranged. She supplied the decorations for the service — white carnations, her mother’s favorite flowers, chosen because they represent sweetness, purity, and endurance. Today the white flowers signify that one’s mother has died and red carnations in time became the symbol of a living mother.

Of Goddesses and Saints

The concept of Mother Earth arose centuries later in Greece. In the 7th century BCE, the poet Hesiod gave the “deep-breasted” earth mother the name Gaea, she who “gave birth” to the sky, sea, and mountains, as well as the ruling gods called the Titans. A few centuries later, Gaea’s daughter Rhea, was honored each year with festivals called “Hilaria”. The festivities lasted for three days and by all accounts were great family entertainment, with revelers bringing gifts and flowers to honor the mother of the Olympians. Throughout Asia Minor, similar Mother’s Day festivals were held in honor of her counterpart, the goddess Cybele.

And here the stage was set for one of the great struggles of all time, a battle that the classicist Robert Graves described as one between the pagan Goddess and the Hebrew and Christian God. Known as the Magna Mater (Great Mother), Cybele was widely honored. Her worship, however, was associated with some rather repellent rituals that eventually led to the banishment of her followers from Rome, gravely weakening the goddess religions.

Graves notes that the Christian church declared war on the White Goddess, also known as the Triple Goddess, the ancient European deity who appeared as the new, full, and old moons, representing “The Female Goddess of Birth, Love and Death”. The Christian Trinity, said Graves, eventually triumphed over the trinity of the Goddess. The Western male conquered the Eastern and agricultural female.

In victory, the patriarchal Holy Roman Catholic Church subsumed and welcomed its former opponents by calling itself ”Mother Church.” A new variation of Mother’s Day, was put in place, this time in honor of the church itself. On the fourth Sunday in Lent, people brought gifts to the church where they had been baptized. This custom changed during late Medieval times when many children had to move away from home in order to find work and were only allowed one holiday a year, and it was on this fourth Sunday that the children went home to see their mothers. Thus the custom of “Mothering Sunday” was begun.

Similarly, in the Celtic countries and the British Isles, the powerful goddess Brigit was transformed into her Christian successor, St. Brigid. Brigit’s sacred day, which was connected with the ewes coming into milk, became St. Brigid’s Day. Though formal mother worship was never completely eliminated in the British Isles, by the 17th century Mother’s Day had been almost completely submerged into Mothering Day. Not surprizingly, with the disappearance of a female deity, devotion to Mary, Mother of God, would soon emerge as the new Mother cult.

Mothers of Us All

However far away from its origins the celebration has migrated, Mother’s Day is still much more than just a “Hallmark® holiday”. And certainly more than remembering to send a card and flowers, or hanging out with the family. More, even, than expressing gratitude for the instrument by which you came to be.

It is an opportunity to recognize that we are part of something universal, that we are all sons and daughters of this earth, connected, with the same blood flowing in our veins, and the same needs and desires calling out to our hearts. It is about honoring each other, and seeking the spark of Divinity which resides in each and every one of us.

Though now commercialized, Mother’s Day reminds us that we ought to take pause to appreciate the triumph and ferocity of motherhood that lies beneath the holiday’s sweet surface.

Roman Feast of Lupercalia
This ancient pagan fertility celebration, which honored Juno, queen of the Roman gods and goddesses and goddess of women and marriage, was held on Feb 14th, the day before the feast began. During festival time, women would write love letters, also known as billets, and leave them in a large urn. The men of Rome would then draw a note from the urn and ardently pursue the woman who wrote the message they had chosen.
Apparently, the custom of lottery drawings to select valentines continued into the 18th century, coming to an end when people decided they’d rather choose (sight seen!) their valentines.

The Birds and the Bees?
In the Middle Ages, people began to send love letters on Valentine’s Day. Medieval Europeans believed that birds began to mate on Feb. 14.

Saint Valentine
There’s also some controversy regarding Saint Valentine, for whom the famous day is named. Archaeologists, who unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine, are not sure if there was one Valentine or more! Today, the Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred on Feb 14th, (at least two of those in Italy during the 3rd century.)

The most popular candidate for St. Valentine was a 3rd century Roman priest who practised Christianity and performed secret marriages against direct orders from Emperor Claudius II, who believed single soldiers were more likely to join his army. Legend has it that Valentine sent a friend (the jailer’s daughter) a note signed “From Your Valentine” before he was executed on Feb. 14 in 270 A.D. That phrase is still used prominently on today’s cards!

Early Christians were happier with the idea of a holiday honouring the saint of romantic causes than with one recognising a pagan festival. In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius named Feb 14th in honour of St. Valentine as the patron saint of lovers. In 1969, Pope Paul VI dropped it from the calendar. However, the blend of Roman festival and Christian martyrdom had caught on and Valentine’s Day was here to stay!

Verbal and singing valentines began to be replaced by written missives in Europe in the 15th century. The first written valentine is usually attributed to the imprisoned Charles, Duke of Orleans, in 1415. He reportedly passed the time by writing romantic verses for his wife. By the 16th century, written valentines were commonplace.

Valentine’s cards
Early valentines were made by hand, using coloured paper, watercolours and coloured inks. These valentine styles, some still made today, included:

i) Pinprick valentines, made by pricking tiny holes in paper with a pin to resemble the look of lace

ii) Cutout valentines, lace-look cards made by folding paper several times and cutting out a lace design with small, sharp scissors.

iii) Acrostic valentines, which had verses in which the first letters in the lines spelled out the beloved’s name

iv) Rebus valentines, verses in which small pictures took the place of some of the words (For example, an ‘eye’ instead of ‘I’)

Cards decorated with black and white pictures painted by factory workers began to be created in the early 1800s. By the end of the century, valentines were being made entirely by machine. Sociologists theorise that printed cards began to take the place of letters, particularly in Great Britain, because they were an easy way for people to express their feelings in a time when direct expression of emotions was not fashionable.
Manufactured cards notwithstanding, increasingly beautiful handmade Valentines were often small works of art, richly decorated with silk, satin or lace, flowers or feathers and even gold leaf. And many featured Cupid, the cherubic, be-winged son of Venus, and a natural Valentine’s Day “mascot.”

Some of the more unusual valentines were created by lonely sailors during the Victorian era, they used seashells of various sizes to create hearts, flowers and other designs or to cover heart-shaped boxes.

The Heart
It’s not difficult to figure out the connection between the heart and Valentine’s Day. The heart, after all, was thought in ancient times to be the source of all emotions. It later came to be associated only with the emotion of love. (Today, we know that the heart is, basically, the pump that keeps blood flowing through our bodies!)

It’s not clear when the valentine heart shape became the symbol for the heart (we all know the heart isn’t really shaped like that). Some scholars speculate that the heart symbol as we use it to signify romance or love came from early attempts by people to draw an organ they’d never seen.

Other symbols of love
i) Red roses were said to be the favourite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love; also, red is a colour that signifies strong feelings.

ii) Lace has long been used to make women’s handkerchiefs. Hundreds of years ago, if a woman dropped her handkerchief, a man might pick it up for her. Sometimes, if she had her eye on the right man, a woman might intentionally drop her handkerchief to encourage him. So, people began to think of romance when they thought of lace.

iii) Love knots have series of winding and interlacing loops with no beginning and no end. A symbol of everlasting love, love knots were made from ribbon or drawn on paper.

iv) Lovebirds, colourful birds found in Africa, are so named because they sit closely together in pairs, like sweethearts do! Doves are symbols of loyalty and love, because they mate for life and share the care of their babies.

X – the kiss
How about the “X” sign representing the kiss? This tradition started with the Medieval practice of allowing those who could not write to sign documents with an “X”. This was done before witnesses, and the signer placed a kiss upon the “X” to show sincerity. This is how the kiss came to be synonymous with the letter “X”, and how the “X” came to be commonly used at the end of letters as kiss symbols. (Some believed “X” was chosen as a variation on the cross symbol, while others believe it might have been a pledge in the name of Christ, since the “X” or Chi symbol, is the second letter of the Greek alphabet and has been used in church history to represent Christ.)

It became easier to mail valentines in the mid 1800s, when the modern postal service implemented the penny post. Until then, postage was so pricey that most cards were delivered by hand.

Traditions
A variety of interesting Valentine’s Day traditions developed over time. For example, hundreds of years ago in England, children dressed up as adults on Valentine’s Day and went singing holiday verses from door to door.

In Wales, wooden love spoons, carved with key, keyhole and heart designs, were given as gifts.

The gift of flowers on Valentine’s Day (along with Mother’s Day, the busiest floral holiday of the year) probably dates to the early 1700s when Charles II of Sweden brought the Persian poetical art called “the language of flowers” to Europe. The rose, representing love, is probably the only flower with a meaning that is universally understood. The red rose remains the most popular flower bought by men for their sweethearts. In more recent years, people have sent their sweethearts their favourite flowers, rather than automatically opting for roses. Also making the list of valentine favourites are tulips, lilies, daisies and carnations.

More gifts
Among early valentine gifts were sweets, usually chocolates, in heart-shaped boxes. Apparently, gifts of chocolates and flowers haven’t replaced carefully chosen cards on Valentine’s Day. The modern valentine card has become increasingly sophisticated, keeping pace with popular technological advances. For example, there are cards that let you record a romantic message, “scratch-and-sniff” cards (chocolate smells would be nice!) and cards that play romantic music.

And of course, you can send e-mail valentines. Some sites even offer free personal use of their illustrations or cards. Other technology allows you to send a romantic fax or videotape with a personal valentine message. But choose your valentine carefully, some people find fax and e-mail missives too impersonal and not private enough for this holiday of love!

Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest!

From the 1750s the main tradition of St Valentines Day has been the sending of flowers and cards & romantic notes along with Valentines Day gifts.

When a young European woman receives a Valentines Day Traditional gift of clothing it means a romantic declaration of intent ! Be my Valentine !Wooden love spoons were a Valentines Day Tradition in Wales . These carved gifts with romantic hearts were once popular St Valentines Day gifts.Modern day Valentines Day Traditions include Valentines Day Romantic breaks, St Valentines Day romantic dinners, Valentines Day trysts, Valentines Day Dating & St Valentines Day parties are all often initiated with a Valentines Day Card.Other modern day Valentines Day Traditions include gifts of Valentines Day flowers, Valentines chocolates, St Valentines day Champagne, Valentines Day perfumes, St Valentines Day jewellery & Valentines Day hampers which are all accompanied by a gorgeous gift card.Be sure to check out our valentines section

1. 1. Characterized or swayed by sentiment.
   2. Affectedly or extravagantly emotional.
2. Resulting from or colored by emotion rather than reason or realism.
3. Appealing to the sentiments, especially to romantic feelings: sentimental music.

sentimentally sen‘ti·men‘tal·ly adv.

SYNONYMS sentimental, bathetic, maudlin, mawkish, mushy, romantic, schmaltzy. These adjectives mean overly or insincerely emotional: a sentimental card; a bathetic novel; maudlin words of sympathy; mawkish sentiment; mushy effusiveness; a romantic adolescent; a schmaltzy song.

Most Japanese greeting cards still use hanakotoba correctly. Unfortunately many people, even in Japan, don’t know hanakotoba or wrongly assume that all the Japanese meanings are the same as the Western meanings established during Victorian times.

Strong Emotions

Love is a tricky thing and but flowers can help express certain feelings. The yellow rose means ‘friendship’ in Japan and is a great gift for friends on Valentine’s Day or birthdays. It’s also very useful when someone has a crush on you and you want to let them down easy. It means the same thing in America, so it’s a nice way of saying “Let’s just be friends.”

Different colors of the same flowers change the meaning in hanakotoba. While red roses mean ‘love’, pink roses mean ‘happiness,’ and white roses mean ‘silence,’ ‘innocence,’ or ‘devotion.’ A red camellia means ‘being in love’ but a yellow camellia means ‘longing.’

Red tulips can stand for trust, pride, or pity. Yellow tulips represent one-sided love and dark blue or purple tulips show mourning for the deceased. White carnations mean ‘engagement to be married,’ but other carnations can mean negative things like ‘refusal,’ ‘disdain,’ or even ‘disappointment’ (which I somewhat understand as I am usually disappointed if I get carnations, the cheapest flower around).

Other flowers that represent facets of love are often drawn in the background of manga. Daisies mean ‘faithful’, forget-me-nots mean ‘everlasting or true love’, and lavender means ‘you are always in my heart.’ For some reason in hanakotoba the cactus flower means ‘lust.’ Mistletoe means ‘single and looking’ so it’s no wonder people kiss under it at Christmas time.

In Japan people serious about love give a primrose, which means ‘desperately in love.’ If your crush has no clue about your feelings, or maybe doesn’t think you are serious about them, this is the flower to use. It’s also a good one to send if you’ve asked someone out and they haven’t answered you yet.

Lotus flowers aren’t given as gifts because they mean “far from a loved one.” In ancient times women used to cultivate them in their yards while their lover was away to let potential suitors know that they were unavailable.

If you want to let someone know that you hate them or will get revenge for what they have done to you, give them an orange lily. It is a popular flower for rivals in business to send to each other. Also it is not unheard of for brides to receive orange lilies on their wedding day from ex-lovers or women who wanted to marry the groom themselves. White lilies, on the other hand, mean ‘purity’ and are often used in funeral services because white is the color of death and mourning in Japan.

Flowers with Personality

There are some flowers that represent personality characteristics that make great signatures for manga characters. Pansies are flowers for a caring person and show their (and your) thoughtfulness. Violets represent honesty and can show someone you appreciate their candor.

Jasmine is perfect for someone who is graceful or friendly. If you think someone has good taste, choose a large dahlia. Shy people are represented by an amaryllis and sweet people deserve a lily of the valley. Nature lovers would appreciate one of my favorite blossoms, a magnolia.

Red poppies are seen as ‘fun-loving’ flowers in Japan. Associations with opiates aside, they are linked to cheerful people and could be given to outgoing friends. White poppies are used to celebrate events and orange poppies mean ‘success.’

Sending a Message

Honeysuckle is a good thank you for someone who has been generous towards you. Bluebells mean ‘gratitude’ and are a good way to thank anyone. If you want to wish someone good luck, give them a clover which is considered lucky in hanakotoba. The white anemone is a flower that’s excellent for many situations because in Japan it means ‘sincerity’. Anytime you want to express sincere feelings, the anemone will work well.

A flower to give politicians, royalty, or any other people in powerful positions is the edelweiss. In Japan it means both ‘courage’ and ‘power’ but it is also known as the flower of eternity because even when dried it looks about the same as it does alive. Giving it to someone lets them know that you hope they continue to be in power forever.

The daffodil is the perfect flower to give to bosses, teachers, older relatives, and public figures because it means ‘respect’ in Japan. A nice gift for co-workers is verbena, because the flower means ‘cooperation’. Ambrosia flowers mean ‘pious’ in Japan and would be appreciated by anyone in the clergy.

Freesia is a beautiful flower that comes in a variety of colors that is found all over Japan. The flower means ‘childish’ and is often given to someone who acts immature as a gentle criticism.

The azalea is a pretty little flower that often comes in larger bouquets. In Japan the flower means ‘patience’ and it’s good to give someone if you want to let them know you will patiently wait for them or you will be patient with their decisions or behaviors.

The sweet pea is a flower of goodbyes in Japan. It is nice to give to a friend who is moving away, or a coworker who is leaving for another job. It is meant to mean goodbye forever, with positive feelings toward the other person. Don’t use the sweet pea when breaking up with someone unless it’s a very amicable separation.

A morning glory is a creeping flower that is often used in anime and manga because in Japan it means “I will keep my promise” and we all know how many promises childhood friends and samurai make.Which flower represents you best?

A
Acacia – Secret love; chaste love; beauty in retirement; elegance; friendship; hope
Acanthus – Art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice
Achillea millefolia – War
Aconite (Wolf’s Bane) – Misanthropy
Acorn – Nordic symbol of life and immortality
Agapanthus – Love letters
Agnus castus – Coldness; indifference
Allspice – Compassion
Almond Blossom – Hope; lover’s charm
Aloe – Grief
Alstroemeria – Devotion; friendship
Alyssum – Worth beyond beauty
Ambrosia – Love reciprocated
Amaranth – Fidelity
Amaranth, Globe – Unchangeable; immortality; unchanging love
Amaryllis – Pride; Timidity; splendid beauty, Pastoral poetry
Anemone – Unfading love; truth; sincerity; anticipation; forsaken; fading hope
Angelica – Inspiration
Aniseed – Restoration of youth
Apple blossom – Preference; good fortune
Arbor Vitae – True friendship
Arbutus – Thee only do I love
Artemisia – Dignity
Asphodel – My regrets follow you to the grave
Aster – Symbol of Love; daintiness
Azalea – Take care of yourself for me; fragile passion; temperance; Chinese symbol of womanhood

B
Bachelor’s Buttons – Celibacy; single blessedness; hope in love
Baby’s Breath – Everlasting love; happiness; pure in heart
Balm – Sympathy
Balsam – Ardent love
Basil – Best Wishes; love; hatred
Bay Leaf – Strength; I change but in death
Bear’s Breeches – Art or artistic; the fine arts; artifice
Begonia – Beware
Betony – Surprise
Bells Of Ireland – Good luck
Bilberry – Treachery
Bells of Ireland – Good luck
Bird of Paradise – Magnificence
Bittersweet – Truth
Black Bryont/Lady’s Seal – Be my support
Bluebell – Humility; constancy
Borage – Courage; bluntness
Bouquet of withered flowers – Rejected love
Broom – Humility; neatness
Buck Bean – Calm repose
Bulrush – Indiscretion; docility
Burnet – A merry heart
Buttercup – Cheerfulness; ingratitude; childishness; desire for riches

C
Cactus – Endurance; warmth; grandeur
Calendula – Joy
Calla lily – Magnificent beauty
Calycanthus/carolina allspice/sweet shrub – Benevolence
Camellia – Admiration; perfection; good luck gift to a man; loveliness
Camellia (Pink) – Longing for you
Camellia (Red) – You’re a flame in my heart
Camellia (White) – You’re adorable
Camomile – Energy in adversity
Candytuft – Indifference
Canterbury bells/bell flower – Gratitude
Cardinal flower/scarlet lobelia – Distinction
Carnation (in general) Bonds of affection; health and energy; fascination; alas for my poor heart
Carnation (pink) – I’ll never forget you, women’s love
Carnation (purple) – Capriciousness; whimsical; changeable
Carnation (red) – My heart aches for you; admiration
Carnation (deep red) – Alas! For my poor heart
Carnation (purple) – Capriciousness
Carnation (solid colour) -Yes
Carnation (striped)- No; refusal; sorry I can’t be with you; wish I could be with you
Carnation (white) -Sweet and lovely; innocence; pure love; woman’s good luck gift
Carnation (yellow) – You have disappointed me; Rejection; disdain
Catchfly (red) – Youthful love, I fall victim
Cattail – Peace; prosperity
Cattleya – Mature charms
Cedar – I live for thee; think of me
Celandine – Joys to come
Chamomile – Patience; attracts wealth, energy in action
Cherry Blossom (single) – Education
Chickweed – I cling to thee
Chicory – Frugality
Christmas Rose/Helleborus – Relieve my anxiety
Chrysanthemum (in general) – Cheerfulness; You’re a wonderful friend, abundance and wealth
Chrysanthemum (red) – I love
Chrysanthemum (white) – Truth
Chrysanthemum (yellow) -Slighted love
Cinquefoil – Beloved child
Clematis – Artifice (ingenuity)
Cinnamon – My fortune is yours
Clover (four-leaf) – Good luck; be mine
Clover (white) – Think of me
Clover (red) – Industry
Colchicum (meadow saffron) – My best days fled
Columbine – Folly
Columbine (purple) – Resolved to win
Columbine (red) – Anxious
Compass Flower – Faith
Convolvus minor/bindweed – Uncertainty
Corchorus – Impatience of happiness
Coreopsis – Always cheerful
Corn – Riches
Cornflower – Delicacy; refinement
Coriander – Lust
Coronilla/Crown vetch – Success to you
Cowslip – Pensiveness; winning grace
Coxcomb – Foppery, unfading love
Crocus – Cheerfulness; abuse not; joy
Crown Imperial – Majesty; power
Cyclamen – Resignation and goodbye; diffidence

D
Daffodil – Respect; regard; unrequited love; the sun shines when I’m with you
Daffodil (yellow) – Chivalry
Dahlia – Good taste; instability, forever thine
Daisy – Innocence; loyal love; purity; faith; cheer; simplicity
Daisy (red) – Beauty unknown to possessor
Dandelion – Wishes come true; faithfulness; happiness; rustic oracle
Daphane cneorum/rose daphane – I desire to please
Daphne odora – Painting the lily, I would not have you otherwise
Dead Leaves – Sadness
Delphinium – Airy, big-hearted, fun
Dill – Lust
Diosma – Your simple elegance charms me
Dog Rose – Pleasure and pain
Dogwood – Durability
Dogwood (flowering) – Am i indifferent to you?
Dragon root/green dragon (arum draconium) – Ardor
Dracaena/Dragon’s Blood/Dragon Lily – Inner power

E
Edelweiss – Daring; noble courage
Eglantine – Poetry; I wound to heal
Elder – Zealousness
Elm – Dignity
Elder Flower – Zeal
Endine – Frugality
Epigaea, repens/Mayflower/trailing arbutus – Budding
Eremurus – Endurance
Eucalyptus – Protection
Eupatorium – Delay
Euphorbia – Persistence
Everlasting – Never ceasing memory

F
Fennel – Worthy of all praise; strength
Fern – Sincerity
Fern (Magic) – Fascination; confidence and shelter
Fern (Maidenhair) – Secret bond of love
Fern (royal) – Reverie
Feverfew – Protection
Fig – Argument
Fir – Time
Filbert – Reconciliation
Flax – Domestic symbol; fate; I feel your kindness
Flora’s Bell – Without pretension
Flowering Reed – Confide in heaven
Forget-me-not – True love; memories; forget me not
Forsythia – Anticipation
Foxglove – Insincerity
Foxtail Grass – Sporting
Fraxinella/cultivated dittany/gas plant – Fire
Freesia – Innocence, trust
Fuchsia – Good taste
Fuchsia (scarlet) – Confiding love, taste
Fuller’s Teasel – Misanthropy
Furze – Love for all occasions

G
Gardenia – You’re lovely; secret love; refinement; joy
Garland of roses – Reward of virtue
Garlic – Courage; strength, get well, ward off evil & illness
Gentian (fringed) – Intrinsic worth, i look to heaven, autumn
Gentian (closed) – Sweet be thy dreams
Geranium – true friend, stupidity, folly
Geranium (apple) – present preference
Geranium (ivy) – your hand for next dance
Geranium (lemon) – unexpected meeting
Geranium (nutmeg) – i expect a meeting
Geranium (penciled) – ingenuity
Geranium (scarlet) – consolation, melancholy
Geranium (silver-leaf) – Recall
Geranium (Oak leafed) – Friendship
Geranium (Rose) – Preference
Geranium (Scented) – Preference, melancholy; stupidity; folly
Gerbera – Innocence
Gillyflower – Bonds of affection
Ginger – Strength
Gladiolus – Love at first sight; ready-armed; strength of character; generosity
Globe Amaranth – Unfading love
Gloxinia – Love at first sight
Golden Rod – Precaution
Gooseberry – Anticipation
Goosefoot – Goodness
Gorse – Endearing affection
Grass – Submission; utility, homosexual love
Guelder Rose – winters; age

H
Harebell/Campanula – Humility, grief
Hawthorn – Hope
Hazel – Reconciliation
Heart’s easr/purple/Johnny jump up – You occupy my thoughts
Hepatica (Anemone nobilis) – Confidence
Heather (lavender) – Admiration; solitude
Heather (pink) – Good luck
Heather (white) – Protection; wishes will come true; good luck
Helenium – Tears
Heliotrope – Devotion; eternal love; faithfulness
Hemlock – You will be my death
Henbane – For males to attract love from females
Hibiscus – Consumed by love, delicate beauty
Holly – Good will; defense; domestic happiness; foresight
Hollyhock – Female ambition; fecundity, fruitfulness
Hollyhock (white) – Female ambition
Honesty/lunaria/Dollar plant/Money plant – sincerity, Honesty; fascination
Honeyflower – Sweet, secret love, generous affection, sweetness of disposition
Honeysuckle – The bond of love, generous and devoted affection; sweetness of disposition
Honeysuckle (coral) – I love you
Hop – Injustice
Houstonia/bluet/Quaker ladies – Content
Hoya/Wax plant – Sculpture
Huckleberry – Faith, simple pleasures
Hyacinth (general) – Rashness, sorrow, flower dedicated to Apollo, games & sports
Hyacinth (blue) – Constancy
Hyacinth ( purple) – I’m sorry; please forgive me; sorrow
Hyacinth (red or pink) – Play
Hyacinth (white) – Loveliness; I’ll pray for you
Hyacinth (yellow) – Jealousy
Hydrangea – Thank you for understanding; frigidity; heartlessness; vanity
Hyssop – Wards away evil spirits; cleanliness

I
Ice plant – Your looks freeze me
Indian Cress/Nasturtium – Resignation
Ipomaca – I attach myself to you
Iris – Faith; hope; wisdom and valour; my compliments; eloquence; message
Iris (yellow) – Passion
Iris (German) – Flame
Ivy – Fidelity; friendship; affection; marriage
Ivy (sprig of white tendrils)- Anxious to please, affection

J
Jasmine – Amiability; wealth; grace and elegance
Japonica – Sincerity, symbol of love
Jerusalem Oak – Your love is reciprocated
Jasmine (Indian) – Attachment
Jasmine (Spanish) – Sensuality
Jasmine (yellow) – Modesty, grace, elegance
Jasmine (white) – Amiability
Jonquil – Love me; affection returned; desire; sympathy
Judas Tree – Unbelief; betrayal
Juniper – Protection; succour
Jonquil – Love me, affection returned, desire, sympathy

K
Kingcup – Desire for riches
Kennedia – Intellectual beauty

L
Laburnum – Forsaken; pensive beauty
Lady’s Slipper – Win me, capricious beauty
Lantana – Rigor
Larkspur (pink) – Fickleness; levity
Laurel (mountain) – Ambition; glory
Lauristinus – Cheerful in adversity
Lavender – Devotion, love
Lemon – Zest
Lemon Balm – Brings love
Lemon Blossom – Fidelity in love; I promise to be true
Lemon verbena – Attracts opposite sex
Lilac – First love
Lilac (purple) – First emotions of love
Lilac (white) – Youthful innocence
Lily (general) – Purity
Lily (calla) – Beauty
Lily (day) – Coquetry, Chinese emblem for mother
Lily (eucharis) – Maidenly charms
Lily (orange) – Hatred
Lily (tiger) – Wealth; pride, prosperity
Lily (white) – Virginity; purity; majesty; it’s heavenly to be with you
Lily (yellow) – I’m walking on air; false and gay
Lily of the valley – sweetness; return to happiness; humility; perfect purity, tears of the Virgin Mary
Liverwort – Confidence
Lobelia – Malevolence
Love-in-a-mist – Perplexity
Love-Lies-Bleeding/Amaranths – Hopeless, not heartless, desertion
Lotus – Estranged love, forgetful of the past
Lucerne – life
Lungwort – thou art my life
Lupin – Voraciousness; admiration, imagination
Lychnis/Campion/Maltese Cross – Religious enthusiasm

M
Magnolia – Sweetness; beauty; love of nature; nobility; dignity; splendid beauty
Magnolia (Chinese) – Love of nature
Mallow – Delicate beauty, sweetness
Marigold – Comforts the heart; sacred affection, caress, sorrow
Marjoram (sweet) – Joy and happiness; blushes
Marvel of Peru/Four O’ Clock – Timidity
Meadow Saffron – My best days are gone
Meadowsweet – Uselessness
Mezereon – Desire to please
Michaelmas Daisy – Afterthought; farewell
Mignionette – Your qualities surpass your charms, health
Milk Vetch – Your presence softens my pain
Mimosa – Sensitivity, secret love
Mint – Protection from illness; warmth of feeling; virtue
Mistletoe – Kiss me; affection; I surmount difficulties; sacred plant of India, magic plant of the Druids
Monkshood – Beware, a deadly foe is near; chivalry
Morning Glory – Affectation
Moss – Maternal love; charity
Motherwort – Secret love
Moonwort/Honesty – Forgetfulness
Mouse-Ear Chickweed – Simplicity
Mugwort/Wormwood – Tranquility, happiness
Mullein – Good nature
Myrrh – Gladness
Myrtle – Love; love in absence; remembrance; Hebrew emblem of marriage
Myrtle (wax) – Discipline; instruction

N
Narcissus – Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are; you love yourself too well; self-esteem
Nasturtium – Conquest; victory in battle; maternal love; charity; patriotism
Nightshade – Truth
Nuts – Stupidity

O
Oak leaves – Bravery
Oleander – Caution; beware
Olive Branch – Peace
Orange – Generosity
Orange Blossom – Wisdom; purity; eternal love; your purity equals your loveliness
Orange (mock) – Deceit
Orchid – Love; beauty; refinement; you flatter me, Thoughtfulness
Orchid (Cattleya) – Mature charm

P
Palm leaves – Victory and success
Pansy – Thoughts (you occupy my thoughts); love, merriment
Parsley – Festivities
Passion flower – Faith, religious fervor
Pasque Flower – Unpretentious, You have no claims
Pear – Affection
Peach blossom – Longevity; I am your captive
Peony – Shame; bashfulness; anger; indignation
Peppermint – Warmth of feelings, cordiality
Periwinkle (blue) – Early friendship
Periwinkle (white) – Pleasures of memory
Persicaria – Restoration
Petunia – Resentment; anger; your presence soothes me; never despairing
Pheasant’s eye/Adonis – sorrowful memories
Phlox – Agreement; unanimity; sweet dreams, our souls are united
Pimpernel/Poor man’s weather glass – Change
Pine – Hope; pity
Pink – Boldness, pure affection
Pink- Pink (mountain) – You are aspiring
Poinsettia – Be of good cheer
Polyanthus – Pride of riches
Pomegranate Flower – Elegance
Poppy (general) – Eternal sleep; oblivion; imagination; extravagance
Poppy (red) -Pleasure; fantastic extravagance
Poppy (white) – Consolation; sleep
Poppy (yellow) – Wealth; success
Prickly Pear – Satire
Pride of China – Dissension
Primrose – I can’t live without you; early youth; young love
Primrose (evening) – Inconstancy
Primrose (red) – Unpatronized merit
Prince’s feather – Unfading love
Pussy willow – Motherhood

Q
Quaking Grass – Agitation
Queen Anne’s Lace – Fantasy
Quince – Temptation

R
Ragged Robin – Wit
Ranunculus – I am dazzled by your charms
Reeds – Music
Rhubarb – Advice
Rhododendron – Danger, beware, I am dangerous
Rocket – Rivalry
Rose (bridal) – Happiness
Rose (burgundy) – Unconscious beauty
Rose (coral) – desire
Rose (damask) – Freshness, Persian ambassador of love
Rose (dark crimson) – Mourning
Rose (dog) – Pleasure & pain
Rose (green) – I am from Mars
Rose (hibiscus) – Delicate, beauty
Rose (leaf) – You may hope
Rose (lavender) – Enchantment
Rose (black) – Death
Rose (orange) – Fascination
Rose (pink) – Perfect happiness, secret love, grace & sweetness, please believe me
Rose (dark pink) – Thankfulness
Rose (pale pink) – Grace, joy
Rose (peach) – Immortality, modesty
Rose (white) – Eternal Love; innocence; heavenly; secrecy and silence
Rose (red) – Love, I love you, respect, beauty
Rose (deep red) – Bashful, shame
Rose (tea) – I’ll remember – always
Rose (thornless) – Love at first sight, early attachment
Rose (white & red together) – Unity, flower emblem of England
Rose (white-dried) – Death is preferable to loss of virtue
Rose (yellow) – Joy, jealousy, friendship (one yellow rose with 11 red ones means love & passion)
Roses (single full bloom) – I truly love you, simplicity.
Roses (garland or crown of) – beware of virtue, reward of merit, symbol of superior merit
Rose-of-Sharon – Consumed by love
Rose (red and white) – Together; unity
Rose (single, full bloom) – I love you; I still love you
Rosebud – Beauty and youth, a heart innocent of love
Rose bud (red) – Pure and lovely
Rosebud (moss) – Confessions of love
Roses (bouquet of full bloom) – Gratitude
Roses (garland or crown of) – Beware of virtue; reward of merit; crown; symbol of superior merit
Roses (musk cluster) – Charming
Rose (tea) – I’ll always remember
Rose (cabbage) – Ambassador of love
Rose (Christmas) – Tranquilize my anxiety; anxiety
Rose (damask) – Brilliant complexion
Rose (dark crimson) – Mourning
Rose (hibiscus) – Delicate beauty
Rose leaf – You may hope
Rosemary – Remembrance; commitment; fidelity
Rudbeckia – Justice
Rue – Disdain
Rush/Horse-tail – Docility

S
Saffron – Beware of excess
Sage – Wisdom; long life; domestic virtue, great respect
Salvia (blue) – I think of you
Satin-Flower – Sincerity
Scabious – Unfortunate love
Sensitive Plant – Timidity
Shamrock – Lightheartedness
Sloe – Difficulty, Austerity
Smilax – Loveliness
Snapdragon – Strength, gracious lady; presumption
Snowball – Thoughts of Heaven
Snowdrop – Hope, Consolation
Solidago – Success
Spearmint – Warmth of sentiment
Spiderflower – Elope with me
Spindle Tree – Your charms are engraved on my heart
Statice – Lasting beauty
Star of Bethlehem – Atonement; purity
Starwort – Welcome to a Stranger
Stephanotis – Happiness in marriage; desire to travel; come to me
Stock – Lasting beauty; promptness, you’ll always be beautiful to me
Stonecrop – Tranquility
Strawberry – Perfect goodness
Straw Flower – Agreement
Straw (Broken) – Broken agreement
Sytingia/Mock Orange/Lilac – Memory
Sunflower – Loyalty; haughtiness; you are splendid
Sunflower (Tall) – False riches, Pride
Sunflower ( Dwarf) – Adoration
Sweet Basil – Good luck
Sweet pea – Goodbye; departure; blissful pleasure; Thank you for a lovely time
Sweet-Sultan – Felicity, Happiness
Sweet William – Grant me one smile; perfection; gallantry
Syringa – Memory

T
Tamarisk – Crime
Teasel (Dipscaus) – Misanthropy
Thornapple – I dreamed of thee
Thrift (Armeria) – Sympathy
Thyme – Strength and courage; activity
Traveler’s Joy – Rest, Safety
Trumpet Flower/Angel’s Trumpet/Datura – Separation
Tuberose – Dangerous pleasure
Tulip(general) – Perfect lover, fame, flower emblem of Holland, Fame; charity;
Tulip(red) – Believe me; declaration of love
Tulip(variegated) – Beautiful eyes
Tulip(yellow) – There’s sunshine in your smile
Turnip – Charity

V
Valerian – An accommodating disposition
Venus Flytrap – Caught at Last
Venus’ Looking Glass – Flattery
Verbena – Pray for me, Sensibility
Vernal Grass – Poor but happy
Veronica – Fidelity
Vervain – Enchantment
Vine – Intoxicating
Violet – Modesty; faithfulness, Virtue, Affection
Violet (blue) – Watchfulness; faithfulness; I’ll always be true
Violet (white) – Let’s take a chance on happiness
Virgin’s Bower/Clematis – Filial Love (Filial: referring to a son or daughter)
Viscaria – Will you dance with me?

W
Wallflower/Gilly Flower – Faithful in Adversity, Fidelity, Lasting Beauty
Water Lily – Purity of heart
Windflower – Sincerity, Symbol of Love
Wintergreens – Harmony
Wistaria – I cling to you, Welcome
Witch Hazel – A spell
Wolfbane/Aconite/Turk’s Cap/Friar’s Cap/Bear’s Foot – Misanthropy, Chivalry, Knight
Woodbine – Fraternal Love
Woodruff – Sweet humility
Wormwood/Artemisia – Absence, Do not be discouraged

X
Xeranthemum – Cheerfulness under adversity

Y
Yarrow – Health; healing, Cure for heartache
Yew – Sorrow

Z
Zephyr Flower – Sincerity, Symbol of Love
Zinnia – Thoughts of friends
Zinnia (magenta) – Lasting affection
Zinnia (mixed) – Thinking (or in memory) of an absent friend
Zinnia (scarlet) – Constancy
Zinnia (white) – Goodness
Zinnia (yellow) – Daily remembrance

K Bank Holidays 2008

New Year’s Day

1rd Jan 2008

Good Friday

21st March 2008

Easter Monday

24th March 2008

Early May Bank Holiday

5th May 2008

Spring Bank Holiday

26th May 2008

Summer Bank Holiday

25th Aug 2008

Christmas Day

25th Dec 2008

Boxing Day

26th Dec 2008

A whole years worth of holidays from around the world!