Lilac Blossoms: Exploring Their Historical Meanings & Significance
Lilacs (Syringa) have an incredible ability to add color and beauty to the spring landscape every year, enchanting those who grow them. In the language of flowers, the lilacs symbolize the joy of youth and herald the change of seasons. Here we’ll take you through everything you need to know about lilac flower meaning and symbolism, their rich history and origins in ancient cultures and mythological tales.
Lilac Flower Symbolism – Key Takeaways
In the language of flowers, lilacs symbolize the joy of youth. They’re also a common symbol of love and, in many regions, represent Easter or the changing of the season to spring. In Walt Whitman’s When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d, the poet uses the blossoms to symbolize confidence.
Etymological Meaning
The genus was first named by Carl Linnaeus in the mid-1700s. Syringa comes from the Greek word for “tube” or “pipe” (styrix) and is believed to refer to the plant’s hollow stems.
Lilac Flower Meaning & Symbolism
Depending on the variety, lilacs bloom in various colors, from deep purple to pale blue, light purple, and white. In the language of flowers, lilac blossoms symbolize the joy of youth.
Lilac flowers also have a different meaning for each color:
Blue Lilac Flower Meaning
Blue flowers have a long-held symbolic association with tranquility and happiness.
Light Purple Lilac Flower Meaning:
A light purple flower is symbolic of first love and traditionally features in floral arrangements as a romantic gesture.
Magenta Lilac Flower Meaning
Magenta is a rich and deep color tone symbolizing passionate and unrestrained love, making it the ultimate romantic flower.
Purple Lilac Flower Meaning
Purple is often associated with royalty, regality, and nobility. But the purple lilac is also a very spiritually symbolic flower. Both reflective and inward-looking, the purple lilac is considered a connection to the spiritual world.
White Lilac Flower Meaning
White lilac flowers often symbolize divinity, innocence, purity, and new beginnings.
The Cultural Significance of Lilac Flowers
Lilacs’ cultural significance is documented in Greek Mythology. Pan, the god of the fields and forests, fell in love with the nymph Syringa or Styrix. His love was not reciprocated – Syringa was tired of being chased by Pan, so she turned into a lilac shrub. Pan couldn’t find her, but he did discover the lilac shrub and constructed his famous instrument — the pan flute — from the lilac’s hollow stems.
The ancient Celts considered lilacs’ scent magically intoxicating. In Russia, a sprig of lilac held over a newborn is said to impart wisdom.
To the Victorians, lilacs symbolize lost love. Women sometimes wore lilacs during periods of mourning.
Lilac Flowers in Art and Literature
Lilacs have been represented in art through the decades. Walt Whitman’s poem When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d —from his 1867 work Leaves of Grass — uses lilacs as a metaphor to express his confidence in President Abraham Lincoln.
Works such as Pan and Styrix, painted by de Troy in the early 18th century, depict the story of the lilac bush and the pan flute. Van Gogh painted The Lilac Bush in 1889, and Claude Monet painted multiple works featuring lilacs.
In New Hampshire, the lilac is the state flower. There, it’s said to symbolize the state residents’ hardy disposition.
Suitable Gifting Occasions
Thanks to their heady scent and multiple symbolic meanings, this beautiful flower makes an appropriate gift for many occasions. Lilacs are perfect for anniversaries and are, in fact, the “official” flower of the 8th anniversary.
Purple lilacs make wonderful floral gifts to express love, while white lilacs are ideal for weddings. Light blue lilacs offer a pick-me-up for any occasion.
Lilac Flowers FAQs:
What does a lilac symbolize?
In the language of flowers, lilacs traditionally symbolize the joy of youth. They are also a common symbol of love and, in many regions of the world, represent the changing seasons.
What does a lilac tattoo mean?
A lilac flower tattoo is a famous symbol of love and romance, with the individually chosen color covering additional symbolic meanings.
What are lilac flowers called?
The lilac’s scientific name is Syringa, which comes from the Greek word for “tube” or “pipe” (styrix) and is believed to refer to the plant’s hollow stems.
Wrap Up
With intriguing mythology that matches their colorful flowers, lilacs add interest to any garden or floral gift. Long treasured for their sweet, heady scent, these lovely flowers herald the advent of spring while symbolizing love, romance, youth, joy, and confidence.