The Language of Flowers
Symbolic meanings have been assigned to flowers for centuries but it was only during the Victorian era that the practice of using flowers to send secret messages became popular in England.
In 1819 a book called La Language des Fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour was published in Paris and for the first time it gathered together the symbolic meanings of flowers from different pages and cultures.
'Floriography' (the language of flowers) soon became popular and publications of various flower dictionaries followed.
In the Victorian era, when strict etiquette governed social interaction, flowers were used to express and even awaken feelings and emotions.
Today we are encouraged to openly communicate how we feel and the symbolism of flowers is a romantic reminder of a more subtle language.
