Thursday, July 26, 2012

The Various Meanings of Orchids


We tend to give flowers a lot of emotional weight, and so we tie various meanings to different types of blooms. Orchids are one of the most popular flower types in the world. They are great for collections, decoration and also as gifts because their interesting aesthetics give them the ability to draw attention wherever they are.

 If you have ever wondered about the symbolism or what is it about orchids that make them a favoured gift for occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, token of thanks, congratulatory celebrations, etc, then this article might offer some insights.


Love - Purity - Fertility - Wealth

The orchid flower has a myriad of meanings, and over time some meanings have changed while others remain the same.

In general, orchids in this time & day stand for love, purity, fertility and wealth. Orchids are said to possess strong powers of attraction. Popular during baby events & weddings, white orchids are not only trendy but they also symbolize purity and wholeness, lending more depth to the auspicious occasion.

The orchid name originated in ancient Greece, where the flower was associated with lust, wealth and greed.

In ancient Greece, the orchid flower also meant fertility and virility and was believed to have the power to determine a baby’s gender. So, if the couple wanted a baby boy, the father had to consume a large orchid tuber in order to produce a baby boy. On the other hand, if the couple wanted a baby girl, all the mother had to do was eat a small orchid tuber and the baby would be a girl.

Because orchids are often associated with fertility and said to increase a couple’s chances of having multiple children, orchids are often the perfect flowers as a gift during a baby shower.


 

Healing & Good Health

Orchids are great flowers to be given to a loved one who is ill, or a friend in the hospital as they are endorsed by several different cultures including the Chinese to bring speedy recovery and vibrant health. The Chinese believed that the orchid is especially helpful for organ ailments like lung disease. The Aztecs are said to mix orchids with vanilla and chocolate and drink the mixture for strength.

There are hundreds of different types of orchids, and hundreds of different colours. In fact there are more variations of orchids than any other type of flower with between 22,000 and 26,000 accepted species of orchids. That’s 2 times the number of birds, and 4 times the number of mammals on planet earth.

With the knowledge of orchid meanings, you can decide if you want to plant orchids at home, or to give them to friends or loved ones, or have pictures of orchids in artwork & house décor to leverage on their meanings.

If you would like more info on how to grow orchids, please contact us and we would be very happy to help you.


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