January Birth Flower - The Carnation

Beautiful pink carnations 

(meaning affection, a mother’s love)

Are you a January baby? We have quite a few family members who enjoy January birthdays. People born in the month of January have two birth flowers - the carnation and snowdrop. But, whether they are your “birth” flowers or not, why not read on for more about the history, meaning, and symbolism of these colourful flowers.

As mentioned above, the traditional January birth flowers are the carnation and the snowdrop, this post is just about the carnation, one for snowdrops will follow shortly.

The Carnation
Native to the Mediterranean area, the carnation is a widely cultivated fringe-petaled flower with a spicy fragrance. It was first imported to the United States in the 1850s, and within two decades, more than 50 varieties had been made available. It has long been a staple in the flower industry - especially for Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, this is due to its meanings of love and remembrance.

Carnation History
Translated from Greek, carnation is often referred to as “flower of the gods.” It grew in the wild on the hillsides of Greece and is said to have been named by Greek botanist Theophrastus. The carnation’s history dates back to when it was used in garlands, art, and décor in ancient Greece and Roman times.

At one time, the carnation was used to treat fevers in Europe. In the Elizabethan era, it was used to spice wine and ale as a substitute for the more expensive clove. An essential oil can be extracted from a carnation’s flower and used for aromatherapy and perfumes. It is traditionally prescribed in European herbal medicine to treat coronary and nervous disorders.

Carnation Meanings and Symbolism

In early times, carnations were predominantly pale pink and peach, but over the years, the availability of colours has grown to include red, yellow, white, orange, purple, and green, as well as bi-colours and frosted varieties. As with roses, different-coloured carnations convey different meanings:-

• Light Red means Admiration,
• Dark Red means Deep Love,
• White means Innocence, Pure Love, Remembrance
• Pink means Affection, A Mother’s Love
• Purple means Capriciousness
• Yellow means Disappointment, Rejection
• Striped (any colour) means Regret

The Symbolism Of The Carnation Flower

Believe it or not, carnations exude strong symbolism. Although these flowers could easily be taken for granted, they actually have a lot to teach us.

Carnation flowers have a different symbolic meaning in various cultures around the world.

• Chinese culture: Carnations are typically used at weddings.
• Rome and Greece: Carnations were used in ceremonial crowns, and the name was believed to derive from the Latin word for “wreath” or “garland.”
• Korea: People wear pink and red carnations on Parents Day to express admiration, love, and gratitude.
• Japanese culture: Carnation flowers are the most loved flower for Mother’s day, and the red carnation is symbolic of love.
• American culture: Carnations are the official Mother’s Day flower and are commonly used for special occasions such as weddings for corsages and boutonnieres for proms.
• Victorian era: The colours of the carnation symbolized an answer to a secret question. A yellow carnation was indicative of ‘no,’ and a solid colour meant ‘yes, and a striped carnation communicated rejection in a diplomatic way.

Uses Of Carnations
Throughout history, there have been several uses of carnations. A common use was to brew the flowers in tea. This is thought to help reduce stress and boost energy levels. Carnation tea can also be used to treat fevers and stomach aches.

In the beauty industry, some products include carnation oil as an ingredient to help moisturize the skin. In addition to this, carnation flowers have also been used in massage oils to help soften and heal the skin while providing a calming scent.

In A Nutshell
Carnation flowers are unique and special, and they should be given credit for their rich history and symbolism. They are robust plants – making them the perfect flowers to grow in your garden. Also, they pair well with other flowers and have a pleasant, calming smell.

Words above and more from here and here

You can read more about Carnation Tea here

~ wishing you a happy day ~

Dear reader, within this blog you will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan