Why flower crowns

The symbolism of the laurel wreath survives to this day. It featured prominently on the medal design for the Rio Olympics, for example. The ancient Romans continued the tradition of the crown as a reward for triumph. They dressed their leaders and military personnel in crowns made of laurel, oak, or myrtle.

The grass crown or corona obsidionalis was the highest military honor, awarded by a besieged army to the general who liberated them. It was made of grass, weeds, and wildflowers gathered on the spot where the army had been attacked. A profile of a man wearing a laurel wreath, which indicated that he was likely of high military rank. Cameo, s—s, European. Flower crowns were also worn for festivities and celebrations, much like they are today; they were customary at events such as sacrifices to Gods and feasts.

In depictions of Greek men at symposia aristocratic drinking parties we often see figures wearing wreaths. These were originally made of wool but later decorated with flowers and petals from roses, violets, myrtle, and parsley. Wine Cup with a Youth and a Man, — B. In this representation of a statue of Flora, she is depicted holding her flower crown.

Farnese Flora statuette , , William Chaffers. The Ukrainian head crown may be the most lavish of them all. Not only is it full of rich history, but its ingredients range from flowers, feathers, hemp threads, shells, and beads, to even pieces of foil, wax, and painted saw dust for sparkles. The Ukrainian flower crown is still used widely today to honor past traditions and is knows as a symbol of national pride. It compliments embroidered shirts and dresses and is traditionally placed on the head after the vow exchange.

The Russian flower crown was majorly influenced by the Ukrainian crown, but they decided to put their own little twist on it and use these crowns in fortune telling. They would take their handmade head wreaths and place them in the river while envisioning their romantic relationships. Flower crowns were popular in Ancient Chinese culture as well as the present day.

Customarily, these crowns were worn on your wedding day and most commonly made from Orange Blossoms. It is known that orange trees are able to blossom and bear fruit both at the same time, therefore, if you wore Orange Blossoms on your wedding day it was meant to symbolize fertility. Floriography is floral symbolism where each flower has a meaning and language of its own.

With this growing interest came the practice of using flowers as ways of sending secret messages. We would love to see this communication style resurge in popularity!

Queen Victoria, who was a fashion icon as it is, wore a crown of orange blossoms in her hair for her wedding with Prince Albert in She was said to be one of the first to make floral crowns popular again.

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Build Your Vendor Team. Wedding Website. Find a Couple's Website. Check Out Top Designs. They would float those wreaths down the river to envision their relationships by interpreting the flow of the water.

Floral garlands and wreaths are used as dressy attire and gifts representing respect to someone in Polynesia. Worn by both men and women around the neck or head, the wreath is made of vines, flowers, leaves and plant fiber. Indigenous Americans also used wreaths in their culture. The Cheyanne tribe wore them during sacred ceremonies, dances, rituals, and songs.

Willow, sage or cottonwood were the main ingredients of their head wreath. Women in China wore orange blossom flower halo during a wedding. Orange trees bloom and produce fruit at the same time. Therefore, in Chinese culture it symbolizes fertility.

Besides white wedding gown, Queen Victoria was a pioneer to bring flower crowns into European fashion. She wore orange blossom halo at her wedding to Prince Albert in In modern times, especially as the s, flower crowns are associated with hippie culture. Since it became a fashion accessory, it symbolized peace and love.

And even though hippie style was a subculture of the time, it influenced mainstream fashion and brought flower crowns back in style. If over the centuries flower crowns symbolized fertility, celebration and love throughout history around the world, today it's not only that anymore. It's not another popular hair accessory either. Many women, like Frida Kahlo, used these wreaths as subtle rebellious hints of their identification with empowering social movements and free-spiritedness.

She was already subversive and revolutionary to traditional norms of beauty with her severe looks, unibrow and braided hair with ribbons. For her, like for many other artists, flowers symbolized sexuality.