Monday, April 13, 2009

Carnations at Easter Time

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I bought my bunch of carnations from the farmers' markets.



Legend has it that pink carnations sprang from the ground
where the tears of Mary, mother of Jesus,
fell as she followed her son with the cross to Golgotha.



In ancient Rome carnations were referred to as Jove's flower.
Jove being the God of Love.

In Korea pink and red carnations are given
as symbols of love and gratitude to
parents on Parents Day May 8.

Carnations are the national flower of Spain
and the scarlet carnation is the state flower of Ohio.




A light red carnation represents admiration
a dark red carnation represents deep love and affection
a white carnation stands for pure love and good luck
a striped carnation signifies regret that a love cannot be shared
purple stands for capriciousness
while green represents St Patrick's Day.
Oscar Wilde wore a green carnation and this flower
has been adopted as a symbol of homosexuality.

Pink carnations are symbols of a mother's undying love.









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24 comments:

  1. I had no idea (what's new?!) that all the different colored carnations had different meanings! I did read about Oscar Wilde's green carnation a few weeks ago in a mystery novel but I didn't know they really had green carnations back then! You picked a beautiful bouquet!

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  2. Carnation is next to chrysanthemum my favorite,love the look and the scent of it,olso simbolic meanings of them.Great post.Regards from Sandra
    PS I love the look of your blogsite.

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  3. I didn't know anything abou the history of carnations, just that they're sweet and simple and beautiful.

    Thanks - beautiful pics as always.

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  4. Well ditto for me too. I didn't know the various colors of carnations had so much significance & here I thought they were just a pretty mix!
    Happy day, Lizzy :-)

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  5. What a compendium about carnations, a humble flower, growing everywhere, easy to root and uproot. I didn't know the many meanings, and I appreciate the information.

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  6. Is that, then, why I like carnations so much? Not better than tulips, mind. I love tulips. But carnations, especially deep red ones (and now I know the meaning, thanks!), have always appealed to me. Many thanks for the lovely and thorough post.

    Greetings from London.

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  7. Thnk you for the great info about one of my favorite flowers! Ciao

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  8. This is interesting,this flower never got much of my attention because ,coming from Holland where you can bye seas of flowers on the market the carnation is only always bought by the elderly,people almost feel offended when given this flower,it is the cheapest of them all.
    But now living in Australia where flowers are expensive i have learned to love this flower and its smell! I feel I have under estimated this flower even more now with your research on the meaning of its colours....great post again!

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  9. Tulsa,
    It was an interesting collection of carnation connections wasn't it...

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  10. Alexsandra,
    Hello to you and thankyou for the nice comments.
    I also read that the Japanese imperial throne was called the Carnation throne but I didn't add that because I have a book called the Chrysanthemum Crown- about the Japanese Royal family...I wondered whether it was a mix up or if they use both terms. I will do some more research...

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  11. Lolo,
    when I opened my blog a few minutes ago and saw the vase of carnations I could smell them so strongly!!!

    They have the perfect perfume, subtle but poignant, remind me of my Grandmother...

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  12. Reya,
    nor did I...just loved their simplicity and old fashioned quality.

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  13. Mr Cuban,
    Tulips we don't see that often, poppies I love too. I loved the way the poppies grow wild in the countryside around Tiberias, and some were even poking out of the old wall of Jerusalem on one of my visits.

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  14. Rosaria,
    the carnation is rather a humble little flower, but steeped in history so it seems...

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  15. Lizzy,
    I learned as much as you. Thank you Mr Google!

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  16. Mona,
    Yes I have thought of them rather like that too.
    They are not very long lasting but so sweet and simple. I am not that fond of the stripey ones but they photographed the best...

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  17. Delwyn I didn't know any of this. I love the one with Mary's tears.

    Hope you had a good Easter. Did you make a dinner?

    Love Renee xoxo

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  18. Renee,
    I had a lovely relaxing time thanks. Easter in Au is a time for a long weekend - away at the beach for many...as it's beginning to cool down and it is also a school break - up to 2 weeks holiday at the end of the first of the 4 school semesters, so many families have a holiday at this time.
    I saw my kids and did the 'easter egg swap' but we don't have a special Easter meal.
    Happy Days

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  19. This is my first time seeing different shades of carnations. The lovely purple white one is my favourite, very unique and artistic!

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  20. Yoon see,
    Hello there,
    that one having such contrast photographed the best of all.

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  21. Funny you should say that, as carnations have always reminded me of my Nonna (Grandma).

    I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the consistent and warm flow of affection you so kindky dispensed in my blog. Your comments have helped me feel better in a moment of distress, and I have valued your gentle words immensely. Grazie Delwyn, you're a good person.

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  22. Lola,
    It's a real pleasure Lola.
    Happy Days

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  23. Thank you for the carnation lore...surprising how many different meanings they hold...Carnations have been getting bad press in recent years...probably because they are so cheap, last so long, and are so plentiful...that seems like a lot of good reasons to love them! I love the spicy smell of them (then again I am a grandmother:)

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  24. Oliag,
    happy carnation day to you...

    Being of a certain age... I think carnations go back a long long way and were used on special occasions too - in the man's lapel...so perhaps that's why they are entrenched in our memories

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