Carnation Flower Meaning | Flower of The Month
The January month flower is the Carnation. Have a look at the Carnation flower meaning and learn more about this fascinating and rich in symbolism flower.
All flowers have their own meanings. So consider them before presenting your bouquet – it may empower your message! Learn about the appropriate flowers for the different occasions and learn the secret flowers language – you can’t imagine how helpful it is! Starting with CARNATION.
What Does the Carnation Flower Mean?
Carnation stands for:
- Love
- Pride & Beauty
- Fascination
- Distinction
- Admiration
- Gratitude
Some Carnations History
Carnations have a rich history filled with deep symbolism as they are mentioned in legends, too.
Carnations are probably one of the oldest cultivated flowers in the world, with a history that dates back more than 2,000 years! According to a Christian legend, Carnations first appeared on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross.
There are also speculations about their name origins – from the Latin “carnis” (flesh) or “incarnacyon” (incarnation), referring to the incarnation of God-made-flesh. Even their scientific name “Dianthus“ means “The Flower of Gods” from Greek.
Officially, carnations are:
- the January birth flower
- the 1st wedding anniversary flower
- the official flower for Mother’s Day in the United States.
- the national flower of Spain
Miss. Anna Jarvis (The Founder of Mother’s Day) used Carnations at the first Mother’s Day celebration because Carnations were her mother’s favorite flower.
The Carnation is also the most common flower used in Chinese wedding ceremonies. And in Japan, it stands for pure love, 100%.
The popularity of the carnation is largely due to their beauty, but also because they are long lasting; carnation blooms last a long time even after they are cut. And they are really not expensive. Many brides prefer carnations for their flower bouquets, while others are hesitant as these lovely flowers have the reputation of being a funeral flower.
Carnation Flower Meaning According to Its Color
While the original carnation has petals with spots in shades of pink and peach, today there’s a really wide range of carnations colors. And each of them means something specific! So consider these meanings before presenting carnations to someone you love.
- Light red carnations represent admiration.
- Dark red carnations symbolize deep love and affection
- White carnations represent pure love and good fortune.
- Purple carnations symbolize a woman’s caprice.
- The blue carnation is a symbol of peace and tranquility, but also truth, making them a popular choice for wedding flower designs
- Pink carnations are a symbol of true love due to the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love and perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Images (clockwise): Pink & White Carnation backdrop via Big Little Things | Green Carnations Centerpiece via CraftElf.com | Purple Wedding Carnations – weddingomania.com | White Carnations via Globalrose.com | Pink Carnations via wallcoo.net | Pink Carnations Bouquet via Project Wedding | Blue Carnations via Jesus y Diana
Be careful with:
- Yellow Carnations: Disappointment or Rejection
- Striped Carnations: Rejection or Regret
People Who Love Carnations
Carnation lovers are genuine, well respected for their loyal, honest and practically orientated nature; people who seek their advice; and appreciate the simple things in life & fear big changes.
Special Occasions for The Carnation Flowers
Carnations are a great choice for:
- 1st wedding anniversary,
- Mother’s Day,
- Teacher,
- Thanksgiving,
- St.Valentine’s Day (pink carnations),
- wedding flower bouquet and decoration (blue carnations),
- St.Patrick’s Day decoration (green carnations)
Did you know? {some trivia}
During Victorian times, flowers were often used to send a secret, coded message to a secret lover. Sometimes, they also answered a secret question. A solid colored carnation meant the answer was “yes”. A striped carnation signified “I’m sorry, but I can’t be with you.” A yellow carnation symbolized “No”.
Do you like carnation? I’d love to see in the comments below what is your favorite carnation color and maybe learn more about your personality?