Flowers have always been an elegant way to express gratitude or thanks to someone, all over the world. However, more than a way of silently confessing one's feelings, flowers can easily be translated into a form of language to translate not one, but several feelings or expressions. This forgotten language is called hanakotoba in Japan . After reviewing ikebana, today we invite you to dive into the heart of the world of flowers through nine of them here.
Also, for all those who are not lucky enough to have on hand all the flowers that we are going to present, we can only recommend that you take a look at these magnificent artificial flowers that Univers Fleuri offers. .
Camellia (tsubaki)
The camellia is a spring flower native to Asia. In Japanese this flower is known as tsubaki . It was very popular with nobles during the Edo period (1603-1868). Among warriors and samurai, the red camellia symbolized a noble death but to a lesser extent it could also mean love, making it a very popular romantic gift . However, the camellia does not make a good gift for a sick or injured person because the image of its petals at the end of their life falling one by one will not give them much hope.
Chrysanthemum (kiku)
Chrysanthemums are known in Japan as kiku . They too come from Asia but also from Europe to a lesser extent. They are easily recognizable by their perfect round shape and, like the camellia, they are recognized as a relatively noble flower. They were in fact present on the crest of the Japanese Imperial family for generations. As for their meaning, they symbolize purity, sorrow but also truth . Finally, white being the color of death, unlike black for us, we find chrysanthemums during funeral ceremonies .
Daffodil (suisen)
Daffodils, or suisen in Japanese, are native to Europe and North Africa. They arrived in Japan almost 700 years ago and now grow wild in some areas. They are unusual and flower from late December to February. In Hanakotoba , daffodils are synonymous with respect .
Wisteria (fuji)
Wisteria, or fuji , are purple flowers that often grow on wild vines. It is a popular flower in spring, especially for traditional fashions like kanzashi and kimono. In the past, wisteria was associated with nobility, as commoners were not allowed to wear the color purple .
The Japanese apricot tree (ume)
Contrary to what its name suggests, the Japanese apricot tree originates from China. In ancient hanakotoba its flowers were synonymous with elegance and loyalty . They are often found flowering in spring, just before the cherry trees bloom.
Red spider lily (higanbana)
Red spider lilies are bright summer flowers native to all of Asia. They are associated with final goodbyes and legend has it that these flowers grow wherever people part for good . In ancient Buddhist writings, the red spider lily is said to guide the dead through samsara, the cycle of rebirth. Red spider lilies are often used for funerals, but they are also used decoratively without this connotation.
Sweet pea (suitopi)
Sweet pea flowers originated in Italy and arrived in Japan in the early 20th century. Suitopi is a transliteration of the English name of the flower. In the language of flowers they mean goodbye . But the sweet pea has largely lost this symbolism and has become a popular bouquet flower sold from winter to spring.
Sunflower (himawari)
The majority of sunflower species are native to North America, but they are now found all over the world. These cheerful flowers were introduced to Japan hundreds of years ago. The himawari indicate radiance in the language of flowers, but also respect .
Cherry blossoms (sakura)
