Lavender Flower Symbolism Facts & Meaning: Zodiac, Superstitions, Dreams, and Legends
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Lavender Flower Facts
The Lavender Flower is one of the most recognizable flowers in the world. The flower is prized not only for its beauty but also for its variety of uses since ancient times. The Lavender Flower belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae, and has the genus name Lavandula.
These beautiful flowers are perennial small evergreen shrubs that give a pleasant fragrance. The flowers grow on stalks sparsely at the ends. The pleasing scent of Lavender is produced in the star-shaped hairs all over the plant. Purple is the most popular color of Lavender but it can also come in the colors blue, white, and pink.
Lavenders are native to the Old World and are naturally found across the Meditarennean, North and East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India. They also naturally grow in the Canary Islands. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks have prized Lavenders for their variety of use. Lavender perfumes were found to have been used in the embalming process of ancient Egyptian mummies.
It is thought that the name Lavender came from the Old French word lavendre which was evolved from the Latin word lavare and lavo. This means “to wash” which can refer to the historic use of Lavender infusions for washing off diseases.
Lavenders are hardy flowers that are a joy to grow in gardens. The most common variety of Lavender that most people know of today is the English Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia. The shade of Lavender color also came from the Lavandula angustifolia flower species.
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Lavender Flower Uses
Lavender has been in use throughout history. Ancient cultures like the Greeks, Romans, and Persian infuse Lavender extracts into their baths. Records of the mummification process also have mentions of Lavender oil in the ingredients.
One of the most popular Lavender products is Lavender essential oil. It is used for its calming scent in aromatherapy and medicinal remedies. It is said to reduce anxiety, stress, depression, mood issues, difficulty sleeping, and migraines.
Lavender oil is used for its anti-inflammatory properties to traditionally heal burns. It is also a natural treatment for acne and other skin issues like eczema. Research also shows that Lavender oil can promote wound healing and combat hair loss.
In the culinary world, Lavenders have been infused in recipes for their sweet and bitter taste. They can be useful as a spice in teas, dressings, as well as flavors in desserts. Lavenders are also used to create monofloral honey.
Lavenders are favorites among gardeners. Pollinators love Lavenders for their high nectar content. Their soft hues and floral scents are also welcoming decorative additions to homes.
Bunches of dried Lavender can be used as insect repellants.
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Lavender Flower History
The oldest mention of Lavender on record was 2,500 years ago. It has even been mentioned in the Bible and many other Christian texts using its Ancient Greek name for the preparation of “spikenard”, an essential oil said to be named after the Syrian City of Nard.
While the ancient Egyptians used Lavender oils in their mummification process, the Romans and Greeks find the plant useful in cooking and for insect-repellant purposes. They also love lavender for its medicinal use. Lavender was also mentioned in the 14th-century English cookbook, The Forme of Cury, as an ingredient for spice wine.
During the Renaissance and medieval Europe, washerwomen were known as “Lavenders” because they dried their laundry on Lavender bushes as a form of perfume. In the 17th century, during the Great Plague in London, people would tie Lavenders on their wrists and plague doctors would put Lavenders in their masks to ward off the disease.
Royalties such as Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Louis XIV, and Charles VI of France are notable lovers of Lavenders, often having flowers used in their food, clothes, and furniture.
European settlers brought Lavenders to North America where the Shakers first grew the plant commercially. They sold Lavender herbs as medicine. Today, Lavender is grown all over the world and cultivated for its many uses.
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Lavender Flower Positive Symbolism
The Lavender Flower’s symbolism is mostly positive due to its calming benefits. Lavenders are commonly associated with purity, serenity, calmness, healing, and virtue. Unlike most flowers, Lavenders are predominantly purple in color.
The purple hues of Lavender made it a representation of royalty and luxury. It is also closely associated with grace, femininity, and elegance.
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Lavender Flower Negative Symbolism
There is only one negative symbol that Lavender display: distrust. This is from a legend told in Victorian times that tells of how a Lavender bush hid the asp that killed Cleopatra.
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Lavender Flower Cultural Symbolism
Since ancient times, the Lavender Flower has symbolized healing. Many ancient cultures used it for different medicinal purposes and considered it a sacred herb. Ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Persians used Lavenders in rituals and as offerings to their gods.
In the Christian religion, Lavender is also a holy herb. The flower is associated with the Virgin Mary and symbolizes protection against bad spirits.
In yoga traditions, the color Lavender is associated with the Seventh Chakra, also known as the Crown Chakra.
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Lavender Flower Zodiac Sign
Lavender Flowers are closely associated with the zodiac sign Gemini. Geminis are extroverts with welcoming personalities. They are versatile in their interests with a love for new experiences. Very similar to Lavender’s many uses throughout history and its pleasing appearance and fragrance.
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Lavender Flower in Dreams
There are several meanings when Lavenders appear in dreams but most dream interpretations give a positive association. Dreaming of Lavenders means good news for your children. Planting Lavender Flowers in a dream means having peace and contentment.
However, dreaming of Lavender fields can indicate an unbalanced life, while dreaming of Lavender with bees can mean being overwhelmed.
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Lavender Flower Omens and Superstitions
Lavender Flowers are often used in love spells and rituals for their pleasing scent. Ancient Egyptians burry their dead with Lavender so that the benefits can be used in the afterlife.
Early Christians hung Lavenders above their doorsteps or make crosses out of Lavender because they believe that Lavenders keep away evil spirits and witchcraft. Irish brides also wear Lavender bands for the same reason.
During times of the plague, Lavender was carried in pouches or as amulets for protection against diseases and bad luck.
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Lavender Flower Mythology and Folklore
Lavender Flowers were featured in biblical stories. Adam and Eve were depicted carrying Lavender Flowers as they walk out of the Garden of Eden. The biblical Judith was said to bathe in perfume with Lavender to seduce the enemy Holofernes in order to kill him. And the women who washed Jesus’s feet used spikenard, an old name for Lavender oil.
Cleopatra was said to wear perfumes containing Lavender to seduce both Mark Anthony and Julius Ceasar.
Lavender is storied to be one of the ingredients of Four Thieve’s Vinegar along with rosemary, cloves, and vinegar. This concoction was used by grave robbers as protection against the plague, as told by legend.
