16 Most Exotic Flowers Around the World
12. Lily of the Valley
We don’t know about you, but when we think of lily of the valley, we picture Julie Andrews as Maria frolicking through the hills and valleys of Germany in the Sound of Music. If you were to guess the backstory behind these tiny, delicate blossoms, you would assume it would be quite a sweet one, right?
Wrong.
We’re talking blood and tears.
The lily of the valley’s history is deeply rooted in the Christian religion, wherein it symbolizes purity and humility. (Perhaps why we see many brides utilizing these little blooms in their wedding bouquets!) Kate Middleton, we’re talking to you!
The Bible actually mentions lily of the valley 15 times. It is commonly referred to as ‘Mary’s Tears’ or ‘Our Lady’s Tears,’ as the plant originates from the place where Mary’s tears fell to the ground upon the crucifixion of Jesus.
As these blossoms are springtime bloomers, they have also come to represent the returning of Christ.
Now let us transport you all the way back to 6th century England, West Sussex, to be exact, where the blood of a French saint and martyr known as St. Leonard splattered onto the ground as he valiantly fought and defeated a dragon. Legend has it that God made it so that white lilies of the valley would bloom wherever the Saint’s blood fell, and even to this day, the floor of St. Leonard’s forest remains a blanket of white.
Lily of the valley are also extremely poisonous and can cause death in children or pets.
Fun Fact: Despite being extremely poisonous, as a favorite for royal brides, (Queen Victoria, Princess Astrid of Sweden, Grace Kelly, and the Duchess of Cambridge), these bell-shaped buds are a “must have for any elegant bride”, according to Columbus Flowers, a local florist in Columbus, Ohio.
We don’t know about you, but when we think of lily of the valley, we picture Julie Andrews as Maria frolicking through the hills and valleys of Germany in the Sound of Music. If you were to guess the backstory behind these tiny, delicate blossoms, you would assume it would be quite a sweet one, right?
Wrong.
We’re talking blood and tears.
The lily of the valley’s history is deeply rooted in the Christian religion, wherein it symbolizes purity and humility. (Perhaps why we see many brides utilizing these little blooms in their wedding bouquets!) Kate Middleton, we’re talking to you!
The Bible actually mentions lily of the valley 15 times. It is commonly referred to as ‘Mary’s Tears’ or ‘Our Lady’s Tears,’ as the plant originates from the place where Mary’s tears fell to the ground upon the crucifixion of Jesus.
As these blossoms are springtime bloomers, they have also come to represent the returning of Christ.
Now let us transport you all the way back to 6th century England, West Sussex, to be exact, where the blood of a French saint and martyr known as St. Leonard splattered onto the ground as he valiantly fought and defeated a dragon. Legend has it that God made it so that white lilies of the valley would bloom wherever the Saint’s blood fell, and even to this day, the floor of St. Leonard’s forest remains a blanket of white.
Lily of the valley are also extremely poisonous and can cause death in children or pets.
Fun Fact: Despite being extremely poisonous, as a favorite for royal brides, (Queen Victoria, Princess Astrid of Sweden, Grace Kelly, and the Duchess of Cambridge), these bell-shaped buds are a “must have for any elegant bride”, according to Columbus Flowers, a local florist in Columbus, Ohio.
Advertisements
29 June 2022
Advertisements
