Available online at http://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/promediu ProEnvironment ProEnvironment 8 (2015) 73 - 79 A Review Sacred Connection of Ornamental Flowers with Religious Symbols HUSTI Anca, Maria CANTOR* Faculty of Horticulture. University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Cluj – Napoca, Mănăştur St., No. 3 – 5, 400327 Cluj-Napoca, Romania Received 3 March 2015; received and revised form 9 March 2015; accepted 12 March 2015 Available online 29 March 2015 Abstract For centuries humans have searched in Bible, the cornerstone of the Christian religion, spiritual guidance and healing, but few have realized that the Bible contains many references to flowers, as an evidence and a perpetual reminder that the plants were left on this earth by God for people. Since the beginning of the world the Holy Bible relate that between humans and nature is a perfect synergy. In most religions plants played an important role, inspired architects, until today churches and religion artifacts are made with shapes and drawings designs of plants. The Bible is one of the largest areas where plants have taken a religious spiritual symbolic role. Flowers became common in religious and ceremonial uses for Christians by the fourth century, being used for weddings, funerals, church decorations, various occasions, holydays and even cut. Such flowers are: Passion Flower, Roses, Lily, Cyclamen, Pansy, Ivy etc. Flowers, in the Christian tradition have different archetypal symbols, reminding of what Jesus Christ did and His promises. Keywords: flowers, Christian symbols, religious significance, use. Plant world profoundly affected people's 1. Introduction intellectual and spiritual sphere. Many are indeed herbaceous and woody species which are assigned Since ancient times people afraid of their important symbolic meanings and values, especially weakness and inability in front of nature, they felt in religious sector. Otherwise the plant world was that everywhere are factors which are influencing always a source of inspiration in the areas of poetry, the better or worse, good and evil, spirits acting fiction, and music to visual arts. positively or negatively the trajectory of planets, of Natures has always exercised a great human life, spirits who dwell in the air or on land, fascination on people, stimulating fantasy and flowers, creatures and even objects. imagination, stir the emotions and feelings of In an attempt to find an answer to many admiration, wonder, fear, reverence and awe/ questions unanswered, people have attributed a veneration and suggested similarities between mystical-religious symbolic meaning to natural biological cycles of plants, natural phenomena and phenomena, flowers, animals, objects, all with vicissitudes of life and animals. Then, were magical meanings, each playing a specific role in developed and advanced deep relationship between this cosmic drama. the plant world and human culture to assign symbolic values and meanings to many different * Corresponding author. Tel: +40-264-596384 species of plants, especially in religious sector in the Fax: +40-264-593792 early days of various civilizations. For example, e-mail: [email protected] there are over 190 species of plants which are 73 HUSTI Anca and Maria CANTOR /ProEnvironment 8(2015) 73 - 79 assigned myths, symbols and legends. Trees because plants in the New Testament is Phoenix dactylifera of their large and imposing stature, were attributed especially plant branches. This plant has become an cosmic significance, became the most representative important part of the Christian celebration of Jesus' symbols of the growth cycle, unbroken succession triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It also became an of seasons (as in life), death and resurrection of important symbol in the Christian Easter holiday nature [1]. For Celts, tree symbolized mystical [3]. Passionflower is used especially to represent connection between earth, heaven and hell. Apart Christ's suffering and sacrifice, and each part of the from the oak – the sacred of gods, are assigned flower represents a different aspect of the Passion of individual symbolism also for other trees (beech, Christ. Passionflower is generally a symbol of Jesus' yew, fig etc.). scourging, the culmination with thorns, and In fact, in most cultures, trees are symbols crucifixion. The spiraled tendrils symbolize the lash that include spiritual unity, indestructible link of Christ’s scourging. The central flower column is between the world of the gods, heaven and the a symbol of the pillar of the Scourging. Crown of source of life - earth. Cosmic meanings assigned to thorns is symbolized by the 72 radial filaments. The them, symbolizing “Axus Mundi”, namely the three nails are represented by the top three stigmas World Axis, or known as the Tree of Life, which of the flower. The lower five anthers symbolize the connects the three worlds: the roots - the realm of five wounds. The red stains represent Christ’s blood death and darkness, through the branches, leaves, drops. The round fruit represents the world Christ flowers and fruits - with earthly world and its came to save. The Fragrance symbolizes the spices relationship with the gods, Heaven or Nirvana - prepared by the Holy women. This flower gives promises of all things [1]. specific reasons and visualizations to the Christian In mythology, beliefs of all peoples, tree faith. It provides a visual meaning to the teachings occupies an important place from birth to death and of the Gospel story and the eras where there were no even thereafter. Sense of sacredness of trees, printed catechisms. The passion flower has a common to ancient peoples, slowly disappeared, number of symbols found in flowers individually mainly due to spreading scientific knowledge and other religions and traditions [3]. Christian domination of monotheistic religions, leading thus symbolism in art presents an accurate graphical to the disappearance of religious sentiments attached representation describing people or objects of to trees and plants. But still, the secular culture, religious significance. Ornamental flowers and events have their sacred continuity; see offering plants as Christian symbols represent: flowers to the dead, floral decoration in churches The Holy Trinity: Flowers which are and cypress trees to surround cemeteries use [1]. separated into three parts; colors and leaves, are symbols of the mystery of the Trinity: Father, Son 2. Discussion and the Holy Spirit. Three petals that compose a flower are associated with the Father, Son and Holy From the Old Testament to our modern era, Spirit, but absolute metaphor for the trinity is flowers were often used by religions as powerful Trifolium repens. What creates a unit is each section spiritual symbols. Such applications include their taken as an entity. Aquilegia spp., a multi- use in the five major world religions: Christianity, segmented flower is known as the characteristic of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and the religions of the Holy Spirit. China [2]. Another flower that has often been associated Plants and trees symbolize a Christian with the Holy Spirit is Strelitzia reginae (Bird of symbol or an icon, but can also be figures, Paradise) especially because of its similarity with characters or colors used to represent abstract ideas, the bird. The Holy Spirit is also symbolized by concepts or images depicting an idea. These white tulips and lilies with three petals, symbolize religious icons as Christian symbols have a sacred the Trinity and triple virtues of justice, charity and significance. Flowers and plants perceive hope. Christianity as God's creation to express and share Virgin Mary, Mother of God: Lilium with the people divine goodness, truth and beauty- candidum is the quintessential flower that represents the aim of Creation. innocence, virtue and purity. White lily was The Bible is one of the largest areas where associated with the Virgin Mary since the early plants have taken a religious spiritual symbolic role. Christianity, a seeming legend from the second In Christian culture, flowers were once connected century, narrates that her grave was decorated with with decadence. In the middle Ages, Christians have lilies after her Assumption into heaven. The petals appreciated the beauty of nature and regarded this as of white lilies symbolize purity, virginity, bright and proof that God created the world. One of the first radiant soul of Virgin Mary. For centuries, painters 74 HUSTI Anca and Maria CANTOR /ProEnvironment 8(2015) 73 - 79 have frequently shown a Virgin Mary around the mystic lily flower, over time Lilium became a Christian symbol of purity. This devotional painting determined illustrating other scenes of the Virgin Mary with Jesus, or with saints, also in gardens with lilies and other flowers (Fig. 2). Multitude of legends about roses, considered the "queen of flowers", symbolizing the Virgin Mary, took amplitude in the 12th century. For example, it says that when the Virgin Mary was announced by the Archangel Gabriel that she would become the mother of Jesus, Son of God, she blushed and Rosa Alba became pink. Protected by thorns, rose is a beautiful flower, representing beauty, secrets, life, blood, death and rebirth. Moreover, the rose is a messenger of divine and pure love, expressiveness, color, perfect shape and scent denotes the thorns role of Virgin. Mary in salvation history as the Mother of God, who agreed to be crowned with thorns, and shed His blood on the cross for His love for mankind. When in a flower arrangement a red rose and a one white are side by side, symbolizes the crucifixion and Figure 2. Stephan Lochner - Madonna in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rose Bower [18] In the fourteenth century the poet Dante called Mary "the Rose, in which the divine Word Flowers became common in religious and became flesh....” Many artists of the fifteenth ceremonial uses for Christians by the fourth century, century painted Mary with roses, often in a rose being used for weddings, name day, funerals, church garden (Fig. 1) [15]. decorations, different occasions, holydays and even In Christianity flowers have a special place cut [4].