Meaning Of Lily

These majestic flowers have long held a role in ancient mythology dating as far back as 1580 B.C., when images of lilies were discovered in a villa in Crete,. Derived from the Greek word “leiron,” (generally assumed to refer to the white Madonna lily), the lily was so revered by the Greeks that they believed it sprouted from the milk of Hera, the queen of the gods. Lilies are known to be the May birth flower, and the 30th wedding anniversary flower.

While white lilies symbolize chastity and virtue – and were the symbol of the Virgin Mary’s purity and her role of Queen of the Angels – as other varieties became popular, they brought with them additional meanings and symbolism as well.

Peruvian lilies, or alstroemeria, represent friendship and devotion, white stargazer lilies express sympathy and pink stargazer lilies represent wealth and prosperity. Symbolizing humility and devotion, lilies of the valley are the 2nd wedding anniversary flower.

As the flowers most often associated with funerals, lilies symbolize that the soul of the departed has received restored innocence after death.

Symbolic Meaning of Different Lilies

Lily: Majesty, wealth, pride, innocence, purity.

Lily, White: Purity, modesty, virginity, majesty, it's heavenly to be with you. The white lily is linked to Juno, the queen of the gods in Roman mythology, by the story that while nursing her son Hercules, some excess milk fell from the sky creating the group of stars we call the Milky Way, and lilies were created from what milk fell to the earth. The Easter lily is also known as the symbol of the Virgin Mary.

Lily, Orange: flame, I burn for you.

Lily, Yellow: I'm walking on air, false, gay.

Lily of The Valley: Return of happiness, purity of heart, sweetness, tears of the Virgin Mary, you've made my life complete, humility, happiness, love's good fortune. The legend of the lily of the valley is that it sprang from Eve's tears when she was kicked out of the Garden of Eden. It is also believed that this flower protects gardens from evil spirits.

Some Interesting Facts about Lilies

• Lilies are important culturally and in literature in much of the world
• Some lily species are grown or harvested for the edible bulbs
• Some lily bulbs that are non-bitter are grown in China as a luxury or health food
• Edible forms of lilies have texture and taste that draw comparison with the potato
• Many varieties of lily are extremely toxic to cats, causing acute renal failure which is particularly true in the case of Easter lily plants

Lilies are genus to Lilium which are herbaceous flowering plants that grow from bulbs. Lilies comprise a genus of about 110 species in the lily family (Liliaceae) and are significant as large showy flowering garden plants

View our list of Fresh Cut Lilies

See also How to Care for Lilies

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