Mirror
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Say
it with a flower Flowers have always been the centre of everything. In ancient times, they were offered to the Gods and earned its spiritual value. They were used as decorations in and out of palaces and hamlets, especially during festivals. With time, many things changed the world and its people. But there seems to have been no change at all when it comes to the simple flower, even in this techno world. Still, flowers are offered in religious worship, used as decorations and as an accessory when dressing. Even the faded flower has something to say about its ‘once adored beauty.’ Remember, the day you found a pressed flower trapped in the pages of a book? It’s
also the perfect gift! Says Mr. Jayakody, “You can give flowers as gifts to your love (even guys), your parents, grandparents, teachers and your friends; to almost anyone. If you give flowers, even if it’s different in colour and variety, it would always be accepted with joy and happiness. If you try to give an expensive gift, people may be cautious about you, as they may think that you need them in order to get things done. But flowers will not bear such an impression, as it always reflects innocence within it. That’s the special quality of flowers.” Flowers can be given in varieties of arrangements; in bouquets, in baskets, in a glass, etc. “Given as gifts, flowers can occupy many places in our homes. If it’s a normal arrangement, people can keep it in the centre of the table. If it’s a pot, they can keep it in the garden. If it’s a stand, keep it in the hall. A small arrangement would be ideal in the bathroom and a huge pot can be kept at the entrance of a house, to secure the feeling of being welcomed,” explained Mr. Jayakody. According to Mr. Jayakody, many make mistakes when arranging flowers for special occasions. “If it’s a traditional wedding, lotus, jasmine and marigold will reflect traditional values, while roses and gerberas will be more suitable for a Western-themed wedding. Sometimes, people may fold the lotus, to make it look like a rose, and use it for a Western-style wedding, which is not effective at all. The problem with the lotus is that it fades very fast, and water must be sprayed very often to keep it looking fresh. Also, for Western weddings, flowers can look artistic with minimal stylish arrangements, incorporating candles.” While flowers are used as gifts in modern days, most of us are unaware that they speak a silent language. It’s true that many would give away red roses to mean ‘I Love You,’ without speaking it aloud, but there are other flowers that speak the language of love and other messages as well. When you want to ask a girl ‘Do you love me?’ you can whisper those words just by giving her a wild daisy. When you accept your Cupid’s love, but struggle to say ‘yes,’ say the word by giving a solid colour carnation. You could share the joy of love by giving a variety of flowers with different message to your love. You can give gerberas or sunflowers to denote, ‘You’re the sunshine of my life.’ If you give a cream tulip, it means, ‘I’ll love you forever,’ and if this is your first love, you can say it with a purple lilac. When you are far away and your love needs more ingredients to keep it going, you can celebrate your love with a butterfly orchid that would mean, ‘You’re always on my mind,’ a primrose to mean, ‘I can’t live without you,’ or even a periwinkle to evoke ‘sweet remembrances.’ Friends play a major role in our lives and they can be cherished with a chrysanthemum to say that he/she is a wonderful and cheerful friend, or an acacia to appreciate a general platonic relationship. Remember, the ‘forget-me-not,’ written and presented during a farewell party to evoke memories? Next time, when you get together with your friends or family members after a long time, decorate your home with a lily of the valley to mean, the ‘return of happiness.’ Acacia can be given to anyone – even your grandparents, as it also indicates ‘beauty in retirement.’ You may also present orchids to your grandmother to appreciate her ‘mature charm.’ When you want to thank someone, say it with a bellflower, or say ‘sorry’ with a purple hyacinth. Palm leaves assure victory. Don’t give any woman a spider flower, as it means ‘elope with me.’ Sometimes flowers speak differently to different cultures. But what ever the culture, ethnicity, or religious background you are from, flowers always stand for that happy approach to life. So reach for a posy and makes someone’s season! |
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