Birth flowers are symbols associated with each month of the year, and they represent certain qualities or virtues. They can be given as gifts to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or any other special occasion. Learn all about them!
Where Do Birth Flowers Come From? The History of Flower Symbolism
The tradition of assigning meanings to flowers dates back to the Victorian era, when the language of flowers was developed. The highly conservative social etiquette of the time meant that people couldn’t express their feelings openly, so they would send each other certain flowers to communicate what they couldn’t say out loud.
Flowers have been associated with birthday celebrations since the Roman times, when it was customary to give a flower wreath to someone on their birthday. The tradition eventually made its way to England, where each birth month was assigned a flower – or more, in some cases.
Each birth flower has its own meaning, and these meanings can vary depending on the culture. In general, birth flowers are associated with certain qualities or virtues.
Today, many parents choose to give birth flowers to their children, either as a way to celebrate their arrival or as a way to pass on family traditions. There’s also the newer custom of using flowers of certain colors to announce the sex of a baby, with blue flowers indicating a boy and pink flowers indicating a girl.
What do Birth Flowers Mean?
According to the old wives’ tale, your birth flower is supposed to reveal some insight into your personality. For example, if you’re born in January, your birth flower is the carnation, which is said to symbolize love and admiration. If you’re born in February, your birth flower is the Iris, which is said to symbolize faith and wisdom. And so on and so forth.
But what does it really mean if your birth flower is the rose, or the lily, or the daisy? Well, that’s up for interpretation. Some people believe that your birth flower reflects certain qualities that you were born with. Others believe that it’s a representation of the qualities that you hope to acquire in life. And still others believe that it’s simply a pretty flower that’s associated with your birth month.
Whatever you believe, there’s no denying that birth flowers make for beautiful and unique gifts. So if you’re looking for a thoughtful way to celebrate someone special in your life, consider giving them a bouquet of their birth flowers.
List of Birth Flowers by Months
If you’re not sure what your birth flower is, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of months with their corresponding birth flowers and their meanings.
- January: carnation (pink for love and appreciation; white for luck, love and affection; red for love and friendship) and snowdrop (hope and rebirth);
- February: violet (faithful love, loyalty, humility and truth), iris (hope, faith, purity and innocence) and primrose (undying affection and young love);
- March: daffodil (new beginnings, luck, prosperity and hope);
- April: daisy (purity, love, fertility and motherhood) and sweet pea (gratitude and bliss);
- May: lily of the valley (romance, purity, happiness, and luck) and hawthorn (beauty, hope, love and supreme happiness);
- June: rose (love, passion, romance and gratitude) and honeysuckle (eternal love and happiness);
- July: larkspur (happiness and love) and water lily (creation, beauty, enlightenment and resurrection);
- August: gladiolus (honor, respect and integrity) and poppy (prosperity, remembrance, enchantment and sympathy);
- September: aster (achievement, wisdom, faith and love) and morning glory (intimate love, affection and patience);
- October: marigold (commitment and devotion) and cosmos (harmony, balance, joy and modesty);
- November: chrysanthemum (friendship and love) and peony (good fortune, romance, compassion and honor);
- December: narcissus (purity and innocence), holly (optimism and happiness) and poinsettia (celebration and success).
Have you found your birth flower yet? If you like the meaning, try growing your birth flower in a pot or in your garden. Not only will it make for a beautiful decoration, but it will also be a special reminder of your birth month – and of your own unique qualities and virtues!
Why Are There Two or Three Birth Flowers for Some Months?
Different countries and cultures have different traditions when it comes to birth flowers. In some cases, there are multiple flowers associated with a single month, while in other cases, a single flower may be associated with multiple months.
For example, in the United States, the birth flower for January is the carnation, while in the United Kingdom, the birth flower for January is the snowdrop. Similarly, in the U.S., the birth flower for May is the lily of the valley, while in the UK, the birth flower for May is the hawthorn.
The flowers that are traditionally associated with a particular month may be different if you live in another part of the world. So if you’re ever unsure about which flower is your birth flower, it’s always best to ask someone from that culture or region.
Do Birth Flowers Have Any Other Significance?
In addition to being pretty gifts and decorations, birth flowers also have a long history of symbolizing different things. As we’ve mentioned before, in the Victorian era, birth flowers were often used to send secret messages.
The language of flowers, or floriography, was a popular way for people to communicate without speaking. And because different flowers have different meanings, it was easy to say what you wanted without saying a word.
For example, if you wanted to tell someone that you loved them, you could give them a bouquet of red roses. Or if you wanted to tell someone that you were sorry, you could give them a bunch of violets.
Your Birth Flower Can Mean a Lot – or Nothing at All
To sum it up, birth flowers are a fun way to celebrate your birth month. But whether you believe in their meanings is entirely up to you. After all, a flower is just a flower – but it can be so much more if you want it to be.
So what’s your birth flower? Do you like the meaning behind it? Let us know in the comments below!
