Easter celebrations, whether at church, a special brunch, or a family Easter egg hunt all typically have one thing in common – flowers are present.
They add beauty, elegance and whimsy to the celebrations while highlighting the beauty of the spring season. Many of the same types of flowers are used in Easter celebrations year after year, such as lilies and tulips.
This isn’t coincidental; each Easter flower has a reason for being part of the celebrations.
White Lily
Meaning
The white lily is typically the first flower people think of in association with Easter. According to the University of Nevada, Reno, this can be linked to its mention in the Bible. It is associated with rebirth and new beginnings, specifically the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated on Easter.
Pagans also hold “Easter” Lilies in high regard. Their beliefs connect the flower to motherhood and it is typically given to mothers as a thanks.
The University of Nevada, Reno notes that multiple other religions connect white lilies to purity and grace.
History
White lilies, initially located in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, were introduced to England in 1819 and America in 1880, according to the University of Nevada, Reno.
Today, as a result of wars and political issues, there are only a handful of American growers of white lilies on the Oregon-California border in a location known as the Easter Lily Capital of the World. 95% of potted Easter Lily bulbs come out of this area.
Tulip
Meaning
Tulips are popular Easter flowers because they are in bloom around the holiday and come in a variety of colors, many of which match the aesthetics of Easter. Some of the colors have meanings that are also associated with the holiday.
According to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the colors’ meanings are associated with rebirth and purity. For example, yellow tulips represent happiness and hope. White tulips represent purity and honor.
History
Tulips are believed to be native to the Mediterranean. According to the Massachusetts Horticulture Society, in the 1590s, Charles L’Ecluse planted a tulip in Holland at the University of Leiden’s gardens to discover that it could grow in the harsh Northern European climate.
Tulips became a symbol of the elite because of their rarity in Holland, and their trading became popular. This resulted in what is called “Tulip Mania” in Amsterdam from 1634 to 1637 which caused a single tulip bulb to allegedly cost as much as 12,000 guilders, which was the price of an Amsterdam townhouse at the time, according to the Massachusetts Horticulture Society. Tulips still continue to be important to the Netherlands economy today, in large part to tourism.
Tulips made their way to America in 1642 and were growing in settlers gardens in now-Manhattan. In 1698 according to the Massachusetts Horticulture Society. It was reported that a settler in what is New Jersey today was growing tulips. However, it wasn’t until the American Revolution that tulips were fully established in American gardens.
Daffodils
Meaning
The Farmer’s Almanac states that Daffodils represent new life and became associated with Easter because they bloom around the holiday.
In England, they refer to daffodils as “Lent lilies” because of their long-standing association with Lent.
History
According to Penn State, daffodils were originally from Europe and northern Africa, but did not become popular in ornamental gardening until the late 1800s.
Easter Cactus
Meaning
Although not a flower, but a houseplant that flowers, Easter Cactuses are rooted in Easter tradition because of when they bloom. According to the Farmers Almanac, the Easter Cactus is also a symbol of rebirth, a theme of Easter.
History
The Easter cactus should not be confused with the Thanksgiving or Christmas cactus. The Easter cactus has rounded leaf edges with tiny brownish hairs on the tips of the leaf, as opposed to Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti that have spikey leaves.
The Easter cactus comes from the coast of Brazil and is thought to have been introduced to Europe in the 18th century, according to the University of Arkansas.
Flowers add something special to celebrations, especially at Easter. They bring life and color into gatherings and help create connections and memories when given as gifts for holidays.
Although these are the “traditional” Easter flowers, any flower can help elevate and enhance your holiday gatherings.