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Culture Smart: How Much Power’s in a Flower?

by Sheron Long on October 20, 2013

Yellow rose, a cultural symbol whose meaning varies in different cultures

In the language of flowers, what does a yellow rose mean to you?

The Yellow Rose, Cultural Symbol of . . .

Friendship and joy. Jealousy and infidelity. New starts and love’s end. It all depends on when and where you live.

The language of flowers originated in Persia during the Ottoman Empire when women, forbidden to write, used them to get a message across. The art of speaking with flowers traveled in time to Victorian England. There, the yellow rose meant jealousy and was used with other flowers to convey elaborate coded messages.

In the USA today, the sunny color of the yellow rose cues joy and happiness—perfect to cheer up a sick friend or send congratulations on the start of a new job. A long-stem yellow lovely is a symbol of devoted friendship.

In other countries, however, yellow roses may not be such a cheery gift:

In Russia, they are given to signify the end of a relationship, when the red color of passion has drained away. They stand for sadness and loneliness.

In the Japanese language of flowers, known as Hanakotoba, some people who send yellow roses are communicating pangs of jealousy.

In France and Germany, the traditional meaning of the yellow rose is infidelity.

In Islamic culture, the yellow rose can mean anything from deceit to infidelity. This meaning stems from the story of the Prophet Mohammed who, returning from battle, asked for a sign as to whether or not his wife Aisha was faithful. When the wife, who had been unfaithful, dropped the red roses she was carrying, they turned yellow.

When it comes to cultural symbols, there’s a lot of power in a flower. Yes, you can “say it with flowers,” but first it’s a good idea to know what you’re saying!

♦♦♦

For more on cultural traditions related to giving flowers, see “The Meaning of Flowers” at Living Language. The Old Farmer’s Almanac identifies flower symbolism especially in the Victorian era, and Expatica explains more on the meaning of flowers around the world.

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Culture Smart: How Much Power’s in a Flower?

The Yellow Rose, Cultural Symbol of . . .

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