The Victorians were a particularly prudish bunch, at least in public where many sentiments could not be verbalized, and they used the language of flowers, or floriography, to send coded messages. Senders and recipients were men and women; the art was not restricted to women. A message might be one professing love, refusing love, expressing anger or dislike, or a comment on someone’s behavior.
People had floral dictionaries with which to create and decode bouquets, known as nosegays or tussie-mussies. Some flowers had very straightforward meanings; others had several meanings, any one of which could sway the entire message of the bouquet.
♦ Striped carnation: No or refusal; sorry I can’t be with you; wish I could be with you
♦ Gladiolus: Give me a break; I’m really sincere
♦ Narcissus: Egotism; formality; stay as sweet as you are
♦ Yellow lily: I’m walking on air; false and gay.
This story is from the 2/27/2020 edition of Island Ad-Vantages.
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This story is from the 2/27/2020 edition of Island Ad-Vantages.
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