A Guessing Game

                                               


        It is every girl's dream to receive flowers from someone. That is especially true when you are given flowers from a special someone. Most flowers have a good meaning. However, many flowers have specific connotations that they are associated with. My mom always told me that in Chinese culture a child only gives Peonies to their mother on Mother's Day. The Peonies represent the love that a child has for their mother. Roses, on the other hand, have a more universal meaning. Everyone recognizes the meaning behind giving someone a rose--the love that is behind that action. Orchids are also a favorite; not only are they beautiful but they symbolize proudness and femininity. Sometimes, it is hard to decipher the story behind a flower. In The Scarlet Letter the rosebush that is incorporated into the first chapter can have a double meaning. It can symbolize hope but it can also entail human frailty. The choices in flowers that society surrounds itself with are also in accordance with the history of the flower. The stories behind flowers aren't always associated with a positive thought. When someone thinks of posies, a certain nursery rhyme comes to mind; its origins deeply rooted in the time of the bubonic plague. That is definitely not a flower that you want to receive on Valentine's Day. Next time you receive flowers from someone make sure you research the meaning behind them. You may be surprised by what you find. 

Resources: 
"Flower Meanings by Type, Name, Color and Occasion - The Flower Expert." The Flower Expert. 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.
Berry, Gail. "‘Ring Around a Rosie’ A Brief History of the Bubonic Plague."Orca Health Decide Ring Around a Rosie A Brief History of the Bubonic Plague Comments. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.