The meaning of lily in the language of flowers

What does the lily flower mean?

The plant has a rich and long history. Its name translates as “white-white”. The ancient Greeks associated the lily with the birth of new life, sexuality and masculinity. In Greece, statues of gods and temple buildings were decorated with snow-white buds. In Ancient Egypt, the flower was associated with the shortness of life.

With the spread of Christianity, the lily began to be considered the embodiment of innocence and purity. At the same time, witches used it to prepare a love drink, and healers made a decoction for the sick and possessed. The ambiguous symbolism has led to the emergence of many myths and superstitions. On the one hand, it is associated with tenderness, innocence and fortitude. And on the other hand, with vice, corruption and sadness.

In the Middle Ages, the lily meant repentance for sins committed. Criminals were branded with a picture of a flower. Lilies were brought to funerals and graves were decorated with them.

Now the plant has many meanings, sometimes completely opposite depending on the country and culture. For example, in many European countries it is not customary to give a bouquet of these flowers on a festive occasion, but in Russia such a gift is quite appropriate for a wedding or anniversary.

Meaning of lily flowers

Lily is considered one of the most graceful flowers in the world. She won the hearts of many girls and women from all over the world. In ancient times, it inspired the creation of legends. The meaning of lily flowers is varied.

According to the mythology of the ancient Greeks, there is a myth about the origin of the lily. The goddess Hera (the wife of Zeus) discovered a baby (her husband’s illegitimate son). She decided to breastfeed him, but he pushed her away. Milk splashed into the sky and the Milky Way appeared. The remaining drops fell to the ground and formed these beautiful flowers.

Also, the marriage bed of the spouses was covered with these flowers of heavenly happiness. The goddess of love Aphrodite gave this flower the meaning of innocence and purity.

Having received these flowers from your lover, you should think about what does a lily mean? The lily is a sign of royal dynasties. Due to its similarity in shape to the crown, it can be seen on the coats of arms of royal and noble families. Her image is seen on the coat of arms of the kings of France. In the Middle Ages, noble young ladies were described in paintings with this flower in their hand. Lilies are even mentioned in the Bible in the words of Jesus: “Why are you worried about clothing? Look at the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil, they do not spin; but I tell you that Solomon, in all his glory, was not dressed like any of them.” Artists of antiquity often painted the Holy Virgin Mary with a lily or the Archangel Gabriel arriving with good news to her.

The Germans have their own belief. They believed that every flower had its own elf. He appears with the flower, lives in it and dies with it too. During the day the elf is inside the flower. And at night he wakes up, begins to pump the bud and a light iridescent ringing is heard around him. In ancient times, these beautiful flowers were grown in all kingdoms. For example, in Persia during the time of Cyrus, the courtyards and lawns of the city were decorated with lilies. The capital Susa was generally nicknamed the city of lilies. Also in the Roman Empire, many citizens decorated their houses, clothes and vehicles with lilies.

The very name of the flower comes precisely from its blinding whiteness. From the language of the ancient Gauls, li-li is translated as white-white.

White lily, its meaning is purity of thoughts, nobility, holiness, virginity and purity. They have a tart but pleasant smell. In Christianity, it is believed that she grew from the tears of Eve when she left heaven. By giving lilies, a person tries to convey how divine it is for him to be near. Since the lily is also a symbol of closeness to the divine.

Everyone is used to associating the lily with the color white. But this opinion is wrong. Its colors are very diverse. Lilies can even be two-colored, with both smooth color transitions and visible borders.

The meaning of yellow lilies is the opposite. They are given as a sign of gratitude and fun. But if the yellow color is too bright, you should think about it. This is a symbol of frivolity or lies. But an orange lily as a gift meant disgust or even open hatred.

Water lilies were given the meaning of calm and tranquility. Blue symbolized nobility of soul. But scarlet or red lilies symbolized majesty, and in some cases spoke of lofty intentions. Tiger lilies signify pride, abundance, wealth and prosperity.

From now on, of course, they attach importance to flowers, but not as seriously as in the old days. Nowadays, the beauty of a composed bouquet is increasingly valued, rather than the meaning of each individual flower. The main thing is that the bouquet delivers positive emotions, pleases the eye and speaks about feelings.

Some people don't like these flowers because they can get dirty. To prevent this from happening, you just need to remove the stamens, called anthers. Then the flowers will not stain either themselves or everything that surrounds them. You can rest assured that there will be no marks left on your clothes. Also, without stamens, lilies will last much longer. It is better not to place lily flowers with other flowers in the same vase and not to add them to bouquets, as they love solitude.

Lilies are suitable for any celebration. Their sophistication, tenderness and elegance will decorate any holiday, becoming a beautiful decorative decoration for tables, halls, carriages and more. Traditionally, the lily is used at weddings; the meaning of the flower is clear to everyone - purity of thoughts and purity. So if there is a wedding coming up soon, a golden wedding anniversary celebration or something similar, you need to take lilies for decoration without hesitation. Their unique grace and luxury will bring a good, friendly attitude and give a lot of positivity and happiness. No one will remain indifferent.

Depending on color and quantity

Lilies are given in mono-bouquets or in compositions. Flower images decorate wedding dresses, dishes, clothing and accessories. By the color of the buds, you can determine the character of the donor or learn about his intentions.

The meaning of the bouquet depends on the color:

White lilies symbolize purity and innocence. The man indicates that his intentions are noble and his attitude towards the girl is serious. The lover who gave such a bouquet is most likely in the mood for a wedding and the birth of children. Brides choose snow-white flowers for their wedding bouquet as a sign of devotion and fidelity.
Yellow means the fan is interested and emphasizes his desire to continue the relationship. However, in a man’s thoughts, the intimate sphere remains in first place. Such a gift characterizes the guy as an extraordinary, flighty, eccentric person; the romance with him will not last.
Tigers symbolize narcissism. It is believed that only a narcissistic and arrogant person gives a bouquet of such flowers. He is financially wealthy, but spiritually poor, unable to remain faithful.
Red - talk about the selfishness of the donor. Carnal pleasures take priority over serious feelings. Aggressive, unyielding, egocentric. It's not worth building a relationship with someone like that.

Yellow

Brindle

White

Red
The number of flowers in a bouquet also matters:

one is a confession of romantic feelings;
three - a compliment or tribute;
five - declaration of love;
seven - marriage is approaching;
nine - the strength of friendship for centuries;
thirteen - enmity, hostility;
fifteen - gratitude, admiration.

Feng Shui meaning

Lily's zodiac sign belongs to Libra. Flowers connect the living world of beauty, eternal youth and tenderness with the kingdom of the dead, withering and sudden death. Balances the energy in the room.

To bring abundance and wealth into your home, you need to place lilies in a vase in the southwestern sector. This location attracts long-awaited guests. If an unmarried girl puts a bouquet there in a red vase, she will soon meet a wealthy suitor. According to the sign, blossoming buds mean a quick marriage.

A bouquet helps to achieve peace of mind, rise above problems and quickly find a solution. Flowers will calm the heart after a difficult separation and give strength for new relationships. If you place lilies in the southern part of the bedroom of quarreling spouses, they will soon make peace.

Lily care

One important point is caring for the plant, because only in this case it will not wither and will be able to exhibit all its properties. Therefore, you should always remember that lilies love light, freedom and coolness, but, on the contrary, will not tolerate waterlogging.

In this regard, according to Feng Shui, house plants should be placed in places where they can receive everything they need. And sometimes it happens that the southwestern side does not provide the flower with sufficient light and coolness, so in this case, it is recommended to move the lily. Otherwise, if she withers in the love zone, then the same thing will happen to the relationship.

Many girls like lilies, and it is not surprising, because these flowers represent youth, beauty and innocence. They are also capable of bringing love and harmony to any home, but for this it is necessary to provide the plant with proper care.

Why are lilies given as gifts?

Giving delicate flowers is not customary in Europe, as they mean grief and sadness. They are placed in the hearses of the dead and left on the graves. Painters painted death with a lily in his hands.

In Russia there are no prejudices about these flowers. They are given for birthdays, anniversaries, and brought on dates. The presented bouquet carries a meaning depending on the color:

White - the admirer is delighted with the beauty, tenderness and fidelity of the chosen one.
Snow-white lilies presented as a gift to a relative, parent, or child mean deep gratitude and love.
Yellow for a beloved is a nonverbal confession of betrayal. Perhaps the man intends to break up.
Yellow - as a gift for a friend, colleague, relative, speaks of support, a desire to lend a hand in difficult times.
Orange - means irreconcilable hostility, envy, deceit. The giver poses a serious threat.

What does a peony flower mean in Feng Shui?

In ancient teachings, peony is one of the most popular flowers. It is believed that if a person is engaged in breeding peonies, the gods themselves patronize him.

According to Feng Shui, peony symbolizes beauty and love and is a carrier of pure Yang energy. These flowers come in a wide variety of colors, but only the red peony is most valued because... it is he who symbolizes love. If a girl gardens and wants to attract love and passionate relationships into her life, she should plant red peonies. They are the ones who make girls witty and charming.

In Japan, this flower symbolizes joy, fertility and wealth.

Magic properties

The flower helps a woman become pregnant and bear a baby, giving birth strong and healthy. For this purpose, in the old days, the expectant mother was decorated with a wreath of snow-white lilies. It is believed that the plant will fulfill any love wish if the flower is cut at sunset.

It is forbidden to use flowers cut from churches, cemeteries or holy land for magical rituals. They will absorb only the bad and after the ritual they will deal a crushing blow.

To protect yourself from evil, love spells and the evil eye, you need to make an amulet with a dried lily flower. It should contain silver and a turquoise bead. Dried white flowers collected in a canvas or cotton bag, which should be placed next to the front door, will help protect the house from evil entities and spirits.

Lilies bloom there... Symbolism of lilies.

What does a lily flower mean?

There is a Black Pond in the count's park, where lilies bloom...
(Ballad of Athos)

Lily is a very beautiful and very ambiguous flower. One might even say that its symbolism is very contradictory. Lily simultaneously symbolizes such concepts as life and death, virginity and fertility, feminine and masculine principles, modesty and luxury, etc.

In the ancient traditions of Egypt, Greece and the Middle East, the lily symbolizes fertility and erotic love due to its pistil, which has a spear-like (phallus-like) shape, and also because of its strong specific aroma. This range of meanings includes lily flowers of red, orange and yellow colors.

Lily - desire, love, beauty. Lily - beauty, choice, sophistication.

The reference to the lily as an erotic symbol can be seen in the biblical Song of Songs:

“Like lilies among thorns, so is my beloved among maidens,” Song of Songs (2:1-2)

“Your belly is a round cup in which the fragrant wine does not run dry; “Your belly is a heap of wheat surrounded by lilies,” Song of Songs (7:3)

White lily flowers are associated with virginity, and ultimately with the absence of offspring and death.

In the European tradition, the lily is identified with Christian religiosity, purity, modesty, innocence and hope for salvation. In this sense, Christ promises, in the famous Sermon on the Mount, heavenly “lily fields” to all those who follow His commandments. Elsewhere, the Savior identifies Himself with the lily: “I,” says the Lord, “am the lily of the valleys!” (Song 2:1). Here the lily acts as a symbol of holiness and closeness to God.

The triple lily is a symbol of the Trinity and three virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity.

Since the Renaissance, the lily has appeared in art as a symbol of good news. Lily is the flower of the Virgin Mary, as well as many saints. Very often the Archangel Gabriel is depicted with a lily when he brought the Virgin Mary the news of the immaculate conception and subsequent birth of the Savior. In portraits, a lily flower in a young girl’s hair, hands or dress speaks of her virginity.

Mikhail Nesterov “Annunciation”

But at the same time in Europe, rulers branded enemies, traitors and women of easy virtue with their royal lily. Thus, the virtuous lily acquired negative symbolism. This was greatly facilitated by the famous novel “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas, in which the author paid a lot of attention to the brand in the form of a lily on the shoulder of the insidious heroine Milady. And although nowadays a tattoo in the form of a lily symbolizes nobility, tenderness, fragility and feminine beauty, in some Western European countries such a design on the human body can be interpreted incorrectly.

Lilies in the bride's bouquet: signs

If on the wedding day the groom gives the bride a bouquet of lilies, it means he swears fidelity. With this gift, parents bless marriage and the birth of children. Relatives, friends, and acquaintances use lilies to express approval and accept the choice of the bride or groom.

Several bouquets on a significant day mean a happy, long marriage and mutual understanding with your spouse. Seeing a girl with this flower in her hair at a wedding is a sign of cheating on your other half. It is undesirable to decorate a dress with lily flowers, as you can invite trouble, quarrels and discord.

If a friend gives a bouquet of yellow or orange flowers at a wedding, this means envy on her part, a desire to destroy family happiness.

Tiger flowers - to a rich sex life, frequent infidelities of both spouses. It is better not to combine different varieties and colors in a wedding bouquet, but to choose only white ones.

Combination with other colors

To enhance the beneficial effects, you can combine several types. Lily in the language of flowers means loyalty, greatness and strength. It can be the main thing in a bouquet or emphasize the beauty of another plant.

Flowers are combined into bouquets not only according to signs, but also for safety reasons. The buds have a very strong smell that causes headaches in sensitive people. There are varieties with minimal aroma, but they are more expensive. If you are aware of a person's allergies or sensitivities, you should not give them lilies.

Flowers look great in a bouquet with cornflowers, daisies, roses and poppies. Certain combinations have their effect:

with roses - renewal of passion in a relationship;
with daisies - finding peace;
with chrysanthemums - to wealth and power;
with irises - to replenish the family.

Delicate lilies mean fidelity and devotion. The meaning of the flower may vary depending on the country. This must be taken into account when choosing a bouquet for a foreigner. The optimal composition would be snow-white varieties with a moderate aroma. It is important to take into account the importance of the event and the tastes of the recipient.

Video - How to arrange a bouquet of lilies

Like any flower, lilies are often given to girls. Depending on what color of lily the gentleman chose, the hidden message presented with the bouquet may also change.

The “classic” bridal bouquet consists of lilies, because their snow-white color symbolizes purity, purity, nobility, and majesty. White lilies are given only to loved ones.

If a girl receives yellow lilies as a gift, most likely this is an attempt by the gentleman to attract attention; such a bouquet emphasizes the originality of the man who chose it.

Extraordinary men give yellow lilies to their chosen ones

You should be careful with red lilies. Their symbolism is wealth, pride, and sometimes contempt and hatred. A bouquet of red lilies can be more alarming than pleasing.

A bouquet of orange lilies symbolizes a man’s interest in a girl, as well as an attempt to find out whether she shares the feelings that arose on his part. This is a silent question: “Is your heart free?”

The tiger lily is a sign of abundance and prosperity. Men who are arrogant and very pleased with themselves and their successes will choose a bouquet of tiger lilies as a gift for their companion.

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