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 PENNEY GMCT Trust Member April 2016 ACACIA: Immortality of the soul, symbol of platonic love and concealed love, sacred tree of Christians and used to build the Ark BELL FLOWER, WHITE: Gratitude, disappointment, loss, unchanging love, honesty and obedience 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 BLUEBELL: Constancy, humility and gratitude, constancy and everlasting love ANEMONE, GARDEN: Forsaken, symbol of brief blossoming and early death, anticipation, good luck BUTTERCUP: Cheerfulness, childishness, neatness BALM: Sympathy, social intercourse, a healing plant 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 CAMPANULA: Gratitude, affection, long lasting love, constancy, humility and delicacy CONVOLVULUS, MAJOR: Extinguished hopes or eternal sleep, humble perseverance, uncertainty CARNATION, RED: Beauty always new, admiration. Pink carnation is for remembrance, white carnation for love and innocence CROCUS: Youthful gladness, first flower of spring, messenger of resurrection, cheerfulness and gladness CHRYSANTHEMUM: Love and death, lamentation and grief, Japanese national flower DAFFODIL: Death of youth, desire, art, grace, beauty, deep regard CINQUEFOIL: Rose of Venus, maternal affection, beloved daughter, hope and joy, gladness DAISY: Innocence of child, Jesus the Infant, youth, the Son, righteousness, gentleness, purity of thought CLOVER, FOUR LEAF: Be mine, symbol of good luck and good fortune, three leaves is a symbol of the Trinity DOGWOOD: Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection CLOVER, WHITE: Think of me, be mine, vitality, healing FERN: Sincerity, sorrow, humility, symbol of New Zealand 2
FORGET-ME-NOT: Remembrance, true love, remember me forever IRIS: Flame, passion, ardour, mother, symbol of life and the Christian Trinity GLADIOLI: Strength of character, sincerity, moral integrity, infatuation, also invoke the power of the Roman gladiators IVY: Memory, immortality, friendship, fidelity, faithfulness, undying affection, eternal life, marriage HAWTHORN: Hope, merriness, springtime, strong and powerful, flower of May Day, symbol of abandonment and fertility JONQUIL: I hope for a return of affection, desire, return of affection, sorrow, domestic happiness HEARTSEASE: I am always thinking of you, remembrance LAUREL: Special achievement, distinction, success, triumph, victory, evergreen memory of the deceased HONESTY: Sincerity, honesty, unbounding love LILY OF THE VALLEY: Return of happiness, purity of heart, humility, sweetness HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection, flames of love, devoted attention LILY: Majesty, innocence, chastity, purity, and resurrection, humility and devotion, flower of death 3
FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH LOTUS: Creation and re birth, purity, chastity, rebirth, Buddhist symbol of good fortune POPPY: Peace, rest, sleep, eternal sleep, consolation (red poppies), sometimes associated with war related death MARIGOLD: Grief or despair, associated with the Day of the Dead, leads souls to the home altar 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 MORNING GLORY: Resurrection, mourning, youth, farewell, brevity of life, departure, mortality ROSEMARY: Remembrance, love and death, often associated in Australia with war related death PANSY: Symbolises remembrance and humility, meditation SHAMROCK: Light-heartedness, the national symbol of Ireland 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 SNOWDROP: Hope, consolation and promise, death PERIWINKLE: Tender concern, flower of death, early friendship STAR OF BETHLEHEM: Purity, atonement, reconciliation 4
SWEET WILLIAM: Gallantry, finesse, grant me a smile TULIP: Declaration of love and passion SUNFLOWER: Devotion to God, symbolic of gratitude and affectionate remembrances VIOLET, BLUE: Faithfulness, humility, true love THISTLE: Earthly sorrow and remembrance, Christ s crown of thorns, Symbol of Scotland WHITE LILY: Purity and modesty 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT GMCT AT: Address: 1187 Sydney Road, Fawkner VIC 3060 Mail: P.O. Box 42, Fawkner VIC 3060 1300 022 298 03 9355 3111 enquiries@gmct.com.au www.gmct.com.au ABN 89 704 536 022 5