ACACIA: Immortality of the soul, symbol of platonic love and concealed love, sacred tree of Christians and used to build the Ark

ACANTHUS: Heavenly garden, one of the oldest cemetery motifs. Acanthus is associated with the rock ground where most ancient Greek cemeteries were placed, symbolises immortality, enduring life

ANEMONE, GARDEN: Forsaken, symbol of brief blossoming and early death, anticipation, good luck

BALM: Sympathy, social intercourse, a healing plant

BELL FLOWER, WHITE: Gratitude, disappointment, loss, unchanging love, honesty and obedience

BLUEBELL: Constancy, humility and gratitude, constancy and everlasting love

BUTTERCUP: Cheerfulness, childishness, neatness

CALLA LILY: Symbolises marriage, holiness, faith, purity, associated with the Virgin Mary. As they flower in Spring they are also associated with youth and rebirth

FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH

When choosing flowers for a grave or a wreath people often prefer flowers that indicate a particularly rich and meaningful symbol or which were the preferred flowers of the deceased or their family. Many flowers have specific meanings in relation to death, as well as life, and these can sometimes change depending on the geographical region where they were originally grown. They can also change depending on religious contexts but mostly the symbolism noted below remains true.

DR JAN PENNEYGMCT Trust MemberApril 2016

FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH

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FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH

CAMPANULA: Gratitude, affection, long lasting love, constancy, humility and delicacy

CARNATION, RED: Beauty always new, admiration. Pink carnation is for remembrance, white carnation for love and innocence

CHRYSANTHEMUM: Love and death, lamentation and grief, Japanese national flower

CINQUEFOIL: Rose of Venus, maternal affection, beloved daughter, hope and joy, gladness

CLOVER, FOUR LEAF: Be mine, symbol of good luck and good fortune, three leaves is a symbol of the Trinity

CLOVER, WHITE: Think of me, be mine, vitality, healing

CONVOLVULUS, MAJOR: Extinguished hopes or eternal sleep, humble perseverance, uncertainty

CROCUS: Youthful gladness, first flower of spring, messenger of resurrection, cheerfulness and gladness

DAFFODIL: Death of youth, desire, art, grace, beauty, deep regard

DAISY: Innocence of child, Jesus the Infant, youth, the Son, righteousness, gentleness, purity of thought

DOGWOOD: Christianity, divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection

FERN: Sincerity, sorrow, humility, symbol of New Zealand

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FORGET-ME-NOT: Remembrance, true love, remember me forever

GLADIOLI: Strength of character, sincerity, moral integrity, infatuation, also invoke the power of the Roman gladiators

HAWTHORN: Hope, merriness, springtime, strong and powerful, flower of May Day, symbol of abandonment and fertility

HEARTSEASE: I am always thinking of you, remembrance

HONESTY: Sincerity, honesty, unbounding love

HONEYSUCKLE: Bonds of love, generosity and devoted affection, flames of love, devoted attention

IRIS: Flame, passion, ardour, mother, symbol of life and the Christian Trinity

IVY: Memory, immortality, friendship, fidelity, faithfulness, undying affection, eternal life, marriage

JONQUIL: I hope for a return of affection, desire, return of affection, sorrow, domestic happiness

LAUREL: Special achievement, distinction, success, triumph, victory, evergreen memory of the deceased

LILY OF THE VALLEY: Return of happiness, purity of heart, humility, sweetness

LILY: Majesty, innocence, chastity, purity, and resurrection, humility and devotion, flower of death

FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH

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FLOWERS AND THEIR SYMBOLISM IN DEATH

LOTUS: Creation and re birth, purity, chastity, rebirth, Buddhist symbol of good fortune

MARIGOLD: Grief or despair, associated with the Day of the Dead, leads souls to the home altar

MORNING GLORY: Resurrection, mourning, youth, farewell, brevity of life, departure, mortality

PANSY: Symbolises remembrance and humility, meditation

PASSION FLOWER: The elements of the passion of Christ, sacrifice, suffering and redemption; the lacy crown - the crown of thorns; the five stamens - the five wounds; the 10 petals - the 10 faithful Apostles

PERIWINKLE: Tender concern, flower of death, early friendship

POPPY: Peace, rest, sleep, eternal sleep, consolation (red poppies), sometimes associated with war related death

ROSE: Love, beauty, hope, unfailing love, associated with the Virgin Mary, the “rose without thorns”. A white rose ‘I am worthy of you’. A red rose symbolises martyrdom and a white rose symbolizes purity and virginity

ROSEMARY: Remembrance, love and death, often associated in Australia with war related death

SHAMROCK: Light-heartedness, the national symbol of Ireland

SNOWDROP: Hope, consolation and promise, death

STAR OF BETHLEHEM: Purity, atonement, reconciliation

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SWEET WILLIAM: Gallantry, finesse, grant me a smile

SUNFLOWER: Devotion to God, symbolic of gratitude and affectionate remembrances

THISTLE: Earthly sorrow and remembrance, Christ’s crown of thorns, Symbol of Scotland

TULIP: Declaration of love and passion

VIOLET, BLUE: Faithfulness, humility, true love

WHITE LILY: Purity and modesty

Address: 1187 Sydney Road, Fawkner VIC 3060

Mail: P.O. Box 42, Fawkner VIC 3060

1300 022 298

03 9355 3111

enquiries@gmct.com.au

www.gmct.com.au ABN 89 704 536 022

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT GMCT AT:

DR JAN PENNEY BA, DIP ED, PHD

Jan is an historian with an interest in Aboriginal history, local history and the Murray River Region. Between 1998 and 2012 Jan was the Executive Chair of Mint Inc. and for several years has lectured at the tertiary level, including the Master of Public History course at Monash University. Jan was formerly CEO of the Goldfields Library Corporation, Bendigo and Director - Museums at Sovereign Hill Museums, Ballarat. She was also Chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria, taking a special interest in the adaptive re-use of heritage buildings and archaeological sites as tourism components. Jan was appointed to The Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust in 2010 and is a current Trust member.