What is the Birth Flower of January?
The humble carnation has an intriguing past that is worth celebrating. For over 2000 years, the carnation has been revered by different cultures for assorted reasons. If your florist isn’t able to shed light on why the carnation is a popular flower delivery during January, we can. Discover how the pretty carnation has earned its place as the flower of January and learn when you should give carnations as a gift.
What’s in a Name?
There is some disagreement about how the carnation got its name, with Greek and Latin scholars having conflicting explanations. Some think that the name comes from the word 'corone', meaning flower garlands or flower arrangements. Others believe the name, carnation, has evolved from the word coronation as they were used in crowns during Greek ceremonies. Latin scholars are convinced that it comes from the less appealing “carnis” meaning flesh, because of the flower’s pink, flesh-like varieties. Another opinion is that the name carnation has religious beginnings and comes from “incarnation” in reference to the word of God being made flesh.
What Do They Mean?
There are many meanings attributed to the carnation, including pride, beauty, admiration, gratitude, divine, love and femininity. White carnations are popular wedding flowers as they represent good luck and true love. Pale red carnations are associated with admiration, whereas deep red carnations represent passionate love and affection.
Remembrance and Politics
In the Netherlands white carnations are worn to commemorate the fact that the country resisted involvement in World War II. In France, the purple carnation is the traditional flower of choice at funerals. In many countries, red carnations symbolise socialism and are worn on May Day.
A Mother’s Love
Perhaps the most popular colour of carnation is pink. Simple, yet pretty the pink carnation has become known as a symbol of a mother’s undying love. How did it get this meaning? It is said that pink carnations first bloomed when The Virgin Mary cried as her son, Jesus Christ carried the cross. Over time the flower has become the favourite flower to give to all mothers to shoe gratitude for their love and hard work. Therefore, although the carnation is officially the flower of January, it is also the ideal flower to give on Mother’s Day.
Having Your Flowers Delivered
When gifting carnations, it is wise, as with any fresh flowers, to ensure they are delivered promptly. Once a flower is cut from its stem, it will start to deteriorate if not cared for appropriately. There is nothing worse when gifting flowers than a wilting carnation. Avoid this faux pas by selecting same-day flower delivery or next-day flower delivery to the lucky friend or relative. A trick to make carnations last longer once delivered is to keep them out of direct sunlight and place them in water immediately. By keeping them away from sunlight, the carnations are encouraged to absorb more water than usual thus keeping them fresher for longer.
When Should I Give Carnations As a Gift?
As mentioned above, pink carnations are a lovely present for Mother’s Day or indeed any day you want to show your mother that she is appreciated. Red carnations are perfect for romantic declarations and can be given to partners on anniversaries or birthdays. Friends will love to receive a mixed bouquet of colourful carnations to celebrate a birthday or achievement. A spray of white carnations should be given when apologising or to show sympathy towards someone’s passing. Be careful when sending yellow carnations as these can be taken to mean disappointment or rejection.