More than just flowers, you can convey your Mother’s day message with the type of bloom.
Flowers are one of the most popular gifts — especially on Mother’s Day. Though it might seem like a last-minute forgot-a-real-gift, there can be a lot of thought behind the bunch. Each flower in the bouquet has its own significance and conveys its own message.
Though there is a myriad of flowers available, these are the more popular types for Mother’s Day.
CARNATIONS are said to be “Mother’s Day flowers” and have been traditionally associated with Mother’s Day since the Passion of Christ. If you receive carnations, it signifies pride, beauty, health, energy, divine love and womanly love. However, carnations also come in a variety of colours, with each colour having its own significance. For example, pink stands for motherly love; while white is usually used to honour a mother that has passed away.
IRISES primarily signify faith, hope, wisdom, courage and admiration. They come in a variety of colours – white, yellow, blue and purple – with each colour having its own significance. It also depends on how the irises are paired. For example, if paired with stargazer lilies, it sends out a message of love and respect.
LILIES signify motherhood, fertility, purity, sweetness, elegance and beauty of youth. Lilies are considered the emblem of mothers – especially new mothers. Unlike other flowers, lilies are available in a huge variety. Hence, each lily you receive will convey a different message. For example, a daylily is the Chinese symbol for motherhood, a stargazer lily symbolises ambition and encouragement while yellow and gold lilies symbolises good health and healing.
That’s not all! Click next to find out about other flowers…
ORCHIDS are definitely a unique addition to your bouquet because of its exotic appearance. Not only is it a beautiful flower, receiving orchids also conveys the message of love, beauty, fertility, thoughtfulness and charm. Similar to the other flowers, the different colours convey a unique message. For example, green orchids represent good fortune, blessings, good health and longevity; while pink orchids represent grace, joy, happiness, innocence and femininity.
ROSES are common flowers for most occasions. They not only symbolise timeless love, but also, honour, beauty, passion, faith and wisdom. However, for roses, both colour and number of stalks play a part in conveying the message. For example, a bouquet of roses in full bloom expresses gratitude, while five roses means, “I love you very much.”
SUNFLOWERS might not be the most common flower you would receive on Mother’s Day. These gargantuans symbolise long life, adoration, admiration, loyalty, strong bonds, good luck and lasting happiness. Although not commonly seen in Singapore, sunflowers come in different colours as well. For example, vibrant orange and red sunflowers symbolise strength and positivity, while yellow sunflowers are for happiness and long life.
TULIPS, a simple yet meaningful flower, symbolises many things like enduring love, abundance, prosperity, indulgence and charity. If you receive tulips, the message behind your bouquet will heavily depend on the colours. For example purple symbolises royalty, abundance and prosperity; while pink symbolises affection and love — a suitable choice for family and friends.
Main photos: File photos; others: iStock