Carnations are often worn on special occasions,
especially Mother's Day and weddings. They were known as "Jove's
Flower" in ancient Rome as a tribute to one of their beloved gods.
In Korea, red and pink Carnations are used for showing their love and
gratitude toward their parents on Parents Day (Korea does not separate
Mother's Day and Father's Day, but has Parents Day on May 8). Sometimes,
you can see old parents wear a corsage of Carnation(s) on their left chest
on Parents Day. Not only on Parents Day, but also on Teacher's Day (May
15), people express their admiration and gratitude to their teachers with
Carnations, as Carnation has the meaning of 'admiration', 'love', and
'gratitude'.
It is the national flower of Spain, and the provincial flower of the
autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is also the symbol of
the Portuguese Carnation Revolution. The state flower of Ohio is a scarlet
carnation. The choice was made to honour William McKinley, Ohio Governor
and U.S. President, who was assassinated in 1901, and regularly wore a
scarlet carnation on his lapel.
For the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction.
Light red carnations represent admiration, while dark red denote deep
love and affection. White carnations indicate pure love and good luck;
striped symbolise a regret that a love cannot be shared. Green carnations
are for St. Patrick's Day; purple carnations indicate capriciousness.
In France, it is a traditional funeral flower, given in condolence for
the death of a loved one. Pink carnations have the most symbolic and historical
significance. According to a Christian legend, carnations first appeared
on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at Jesus'
plight, and carnations sprang up from where her tears fell. Thus the pink
carnation became the symbol of a mother's undying love, and in 1907 was
chosen by Ann Jarvis as the emblem of Mother's Day, now observed in the
United States and Canada on the second Sunday in May. A red carnation
may be worn if one's mother is alive, and a white one if she has died.
In some cultures, however, especially the French culture, the carnation
symbolises misfortune and bad luck.
The Carnation is also the birth flower for those born in the month of
January.
At Oxford University, carnations are traditionally worn to all examinations;
white for the first exam, pink for exams in between and a red for the
last exam.
Growing Carnations
Carnations require well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and
full sun. Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden planting.
PINK CARNATION: I'll Never Forget You
RED CARNATION: My Heart Aches For You, Admiration
PURPLE CARNATION: Capriciousness, Whimsical
SOLID COLOR CARNATION: Yes
STRIPED CARNATION: No, Refusal, Sorry I Can't Be With
You, Wish I Could Be With You
WHITE CARNATION: Sweet and Lovely, Innocence, Pure Love,
Woman's Good Luck Gift
YELLOW CARNATION: You Have Disappointed Me, Rejection
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