Giving flowers to a loved one is among the most frequently practised traditions the world over. Even f you don’t have the time or the cash to put together a gift, just a bunch of flowers will eloquently convey your sentiments.

People give flowers on many occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, memorial service, remembrance, Valentine’s Day, or just for no reason at all. But, ever stop to think how this lovely custom began?

Even our ancestors used to give flowers!

Well, for one, giving flowers is steeped in antiquity, and not for the reasons that we do today! In prehistoric times, giving flowers and medicinal plants was actually looked upon as an act of kindness – often making the difference between life and death. In fact, archaeologists have found remnants of flower petals on several prehistoric grave sites.

As centuries rolled, flowers continued to play an intricate role in the social fabric of mankind. Historians have revealed that the act of giving flowers dates back to the ancient Egyptians as revealed from this civilisation’s hieroglyphics. Chinese writings, as well as Greek and Roman mythology abound with references to the art of flower giving. The ancient Egyptians were also masters in extracting oils from flowers to make perfumes.

Flowers assume special significance in the Middle Ages

Cut to the Middle Ages, the era of severe social taboos and restrictions. The strict guidelines of the church frowned heavily on overt displays of affection between couples, letting their imagination innovate and come up with something far more acceptable. Flowers were innocent, beautiful and totally available. So, couples began exchanging flowers and each bloom had its own significant meaning which only the other could decipher, leaving them free from the tension of prying eyes and inquisitive looks.

From Turkey to the rest of the world…

It was in 1700s that Charles II imported a Persian flower tradition into Europe – the Language of Flowers. It was commonly used in Turkey for sending messages. In fact, the Turkish people refined this custom to a fine art, and even used it in their military campaigns to send secret military messages. So a bouquet of flowers was often a cunningly concealed message which only their personnel could decode in front of the unaware enemy. Read the rest of this entry »