What does the Lily flower best represent ?

2017-05-30T14:45:29-04:00

Memorial Day weekend has just passed. In the USA, the traditions for Memorial Day includes the placing of a flag by the grave of each fallen service member’s tombstone.
During the rest of the year, flowers tend to be associated with honor and respect by tombstones. The Lily came to mind this morning. I have noticed lilies at funerals, wedding and in church services.
When I was young, my parents loved to take my younger sisters and me to Longwood Gardens. They loved to look at the flowers and gardens while I liked to scamper around whenever I could. I remember the various ponds at Longwood some contained carp while others had water lilies. As a child, I was more interested in watching the carp than looking at the flowers. As I grew older I learned to appreciate both fish and plants.
I was struck that the Lily is a flower which is distributed around the world and that it has symbolized many different things in many different cultures since ancient times.
Images: Yellow Lily; White lily; Longwood Gardens Lily Pond; Pink Lilly
Both the Greeks and Romans held the Lily in very high regard, including it in dozens of their religious myths and breeding the plants extensively. Alchemists considered it a lunar plant with feminine qualities, while the Lily is in high demand in China for weddings because its name sounds like the start of a phrase wishing the couple a happy union for a century. Chinese friends and family members also give the flower to people who have experienced a recent loss because it is believed to help relieve heartache. Don’t forget about that enduring sign of European royalty known as the fleur de lis. Now commonly found on silverware and wallpaper, that stylized floral design symbolizes a regal bearing and was loosely based on a member of the Lily family.
Lily Flower Color Meanings
White lilies are an obvious symbol of purity, especially since many Christian denominations use the snowy Madonna Lily to represent the Virgin Mary. The striped pink flower known as the Stargazer Lily is one of the most popular flowers for bouquets today, and it means ambition and encouragement with a difficult challenge. Yellow and gold lilies most commonly symbolize good health and healing, while bright red blooms speaks of passion and work great for weddings and proposal bouquets."

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2017 2:47 PM

2017-05-30T14:47:35-04:00

I've seen them used at weddings and at funerals. I've seen them used for a number of occasions. I guess it all depends.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 30 at 2017 2:52 PM

2017-05-30T14:52:52-04:00

I had no real interest in flowers or vegetation as a young man or Soldier except to climb trees or use for concealment as a Soldier. After I became a Christian, I had a little interest in the what Lily's represented and their uses. To me the most significant representation of the lily is that it is sued to represent rebirth in Christ.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2017 3:07 PM

2017-05-30T15:07:16-04:00

LTC Stephen F., I love to learn about history and the significance of different symbols, etc. I definitely respect the beliefs of other people, but I do not put much stock in symbols myself. I find it fascinating to relate one thing to another and run through the specific reasons, however, throughout history, symbols have been used to represent opposites. What I mean by that is things like the swastika used to represent ancient Indian religions and then came to be used by the National Socialist Party. The Nazi's completely bastardized something once used for good.
As far as flowers, I appreciate beauty (I am a poet), and I think it's great that different flowers are used to represent aspects of our lives. Again, I saw a post about birds this morning and a particular bird was said to symbolize celebration as well as despair.
So while I find it fascinating, I don't personally subscribe to most of them. I do think that anything in a person's life can come to represent something for that person.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 30 at 2017 4:04 PM

2017-05-30T16:04:37-04:00

I've always rebirth, that's why they have the Easter Lily.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 30 at 2017 6:14 PM

2017-05-30T18:14:06-04:00

When I hear Lilly. I think of White Lillies, Symbol of Death in My Mind but being a Gardener I know of Other Varieties like the Tiger Lillies that I grow.

Response by PO3 Phyllis Maynard made Feb 2 at 2021 5:46 AM

2021-02-02T05:46:57-05:00

LTC Stephen F. I love lilies.