The Legends and Symbolism of the Lily

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. (Matthew 6:28-29, NLT)

While there are many varieties and colors of lilies today, from the brilliant pastels of tiger lilies to the warm, bright orange of the common daylily, in this article I’m considering the symbolism of the white lilies we often attach to Easter.

I was surprised to find in my research that they were symbolic in Greek mythology. They represented the Greek goddess Hera, from whose drops of left over breast milk they were said to have sprung. Even the Roman goddess, Venus, had her part to play. Jealous of their beauty and purity, legend has it that she added an ugly pistil to the their center to mar their loveliness. 

CC 2005 by Solipsist

Lilies were mentioned in Old Testament scripture. In ancient Judaism they were symbolic of righteousness, resurrection, and even of Israel. While lilies may wither in the sunlight, but for being watered, God was like the dew which nourished and protected Israel.

In early Christianity it was said that lilies arose from Eve’s repentant tears when having to leave Eden after the fall into sin. They became associated with innocence and purity and thus, the Virgin Mary.  

Jesus, Himself, referred to the “lilies of the field” during the Sermon on the Mount, reminding us that God is a better clothing designer than His people are. His proof is in the beauty, delicacy, and color of even lowly flowers of the field which He created. He is the ultimate provider of clothing. Perhaps the most likely connection of the lily to Easter is that it is said lilies were discovered in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus’ death and resurrection. They have been nick-named “the white-robed apostles of hope.” 

Since throughout the centuries they have been associated with innocence and purity, it makes sense that they would become prevalent as we remember our pure and sinless Savior, Jesus Christ, who died to cleanse us from sin and rose from the grave to give us new life in Him.

PD Sermon on the Mount by I. Makarov

Fast-forward to 1919, when Edward Houghton, a United States veteran first brought home the Easter Lily which was originally called the Bermuda lily. It flourished in his home state of Oregon. By 1945 more than 1000 lily farmers could harvest and sell bulbs across the country. They have since become readily available for Easter services and celebrations everywhere flowers are sold. The rest, as they say, is history!

Giveaway information: It's the one-year anniversary of the publication of
my first full-length novel, Rumors and Promises. Please leave a comment
for a chance to enter, by April 25th. Paperback for U.S. and Canada only.
E-book version for other international entries. 

Sophie Biddle, an heiress on the run with a child in tow, considers herself abandoned by her family and God. Wary, self-reliant Sophie is caught off guard when meeting a kind, but meddling and handsome minister at the local mercantile. 

In 1900, Reverend Ian McCormick is determined to start anew in Stone Creek, Michigan, believing he has failed God and his former flock. He works harder than ever to forget his mistake, hoping to prove himself a most pleasing servant to his new congregation and once again to God. 

While Sophie seeks acceptance for the child and a measure of respect for herself, the rumors swirl about her sordid past. Should Ian show concern for Sophie plight, he could risk everything - including his position as pastor of Stone Creek.

Now the pair must choose to trust God and forgive those who slander and gossip, or run. Will the scandals of their pasts bind them together forever, or drive both deeper into despair?

Kathleen Rouser has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could read. She desires to create characters, who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. Her first full-length novel, Rumors and Promises, was published by Heritage Beacon Fiction, an imprint of LPC Books, in April, 2016.

Previously a homeschool mother of three, she more recently has been a college student and sometimes a mild-mannered dental assistant by day. Along with her sassy tail-less cat, she lives  Michigan with her hero and husband of 35 years, who not only listens to her stories, but also cooks for her.

Say It With Flowers

A belated Valentine greeting from Carla Stewart! Hope that this month of sharing love has been good to you.

I couldn't resist using this popular florist's slogan as the title for this post. As if this is a modern idea. Flowers have been significant in their message since Biblical times. Jesus said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Lilies mean beauty - glorious beauty. And as the white Madonna lily grew wild in northern Palestine, it's not by coincidence that its appearance each spring has become our traditional symbol of Easter. It's modern definition is majesty, a fitting image of the Resurrection. 

Lilies - photo courtesy of Wiki Commons

The Christmas season brings a preponderance of poinsettias. Their meaning? Be of good cheer. When I read this, I though of the angels appearing to the shepherds more than two thousand years ago with their greeting: "Behold, I bring good tidings of great joy. For unto you is born..." I'm not sure if angels carried poinsettias, but I love that today, we can still be of good cheer as we celebrate the birth of Christ.

My poinsettia this past Christmas

 

 And of course, roses are the symbol of love. Jesus was called the Rose of Sharon, symbolic of his message of love. And each color of rose has its own meaning. White: innocence. Pink: grace. Yellow: friendship or infidelity (according to which reference you use). Coral: desire. Red: love. Dark Red or Crimson: mourning. Red and white together: Unity.

Red Rose says true love 

No era was more attuned to the language of flowers than those who lived in England during Queen Victoria's rein (1837 to 1901). It was as important to people as being "well dressed." Flowers adorned almost everything - hair, clothing, jewelry, gowns, men's lapels, home decorations, including china, and stationery. The scent of a particular flower or a scented handkerchief sent it own unique message. 

Flowers played a prominent role in courtship as well. A young man could either please or displease a lady with his gift of flowers, not only the type of flowers, but also the size of the bouquet or what was in the grouping. In this chaste age, flowers could convey meanings that weren't proper to be spoken. Even the hand with which the flowers were presented had a meaning. Offering a flower with the right hand meant "yes" - the left hand "no."

With such emphasis on flowers and their meanings, dictionaries were written to explain it all, and they were particularly used by lovers. A quandary could develop if the two lovers consulted different dictionaries that might have different connotations which could give rise to the potential for a major misunderstanding! Getting accurate information could make or break a relationship.

Bouquets, also called tussie-mussies, were quite popular in the Victorian era. The small bunch of flowers were wrapped in a lace doily and tied with ribbon. Sometimes they were presented in a decorative cone. To the Victorians, the contents of a tussie-mussie could be very telling. An arrangement with forget-me-nots, for example, suggested true love, while yellow roses symbolized friendship. Lilies stood for purity, snowdrops for hope, and yew for sorrow. Lemon balm and red poppies symbolized empathy and consolation, while ivy, lavender, and myrtle stood for loyalty and devotion.  

The nose-gay bouquet, aka Tussie-Mussie - Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons

Tussie-mussies (also known as nosegays) weren't just for males to present. Women often exchanged such bouquets with their friends and loved ones, and the tradition of carrying a tussie-mussie at a wedding arose in the 1800s. Brides usually carried the ornamental bouquet in a silver or enameled cone. Antique cones sometimes sell for high sums in stores, and modern versions can also be found in home design stores, especially those which stock Victoriana.

Even today, the gift of flowers can convey a sentiment that might be hard to express. We send bouquets to the bereaved and husbands still send the message of love with long-stemmed red roses. But why not also send a cheery vase of posies that says "Congratulations!" or "I want to be your friend" or "You are special." And flowers make wonderful thank-you gifts. So the next time you want to make someone's day memorable, why not "Say it with flowers!" 

A bouquet of fresh daisies (innocence)

 Here are a couple of resources that give the meanings of flowers:
Language of Flowers
Vanessa Diffenbaugh's Flower Dictionary. In her lovely book The Language of Flowers, she ran into the same issues with different meanings as the Victorian times people did. In this dictionary, her goal was to create a usable, relevant dictionary for modern readers.

What is your favorite flower? Does it have a story behind it. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Carla Stewart is the award-winning author of five novels. With a passion for times gone by, it is her desire to take readers back to that warm, familiar place in their hearts called “home.” Her newest release is The Hatmaker's Heart. In New York City’s Jazz Age, a naïve, but talented young hat designer must weigh the cost of success when the rekindled love with her childhood sweetheart is lost and her integrity in the cutthroat fashion world is tested.

Learn more about Carla at www.carlastewart.com