As one of the most popular and oldest cultivated flowers in the world, Carnations hold a rich history and are widely known for their ruffled elegance and mesmerizing scent. The flower’s natural color is a bright pinkish-purple, but many carnation breeders are introducing different colors which help express different messages when looking for the perfect gift.

In the month of April, we’ll be looking at Carnations. Let’s explore where they come from, what they represent, and what the different colors help express.

Where Carnations Come From

With over 2000 years of extensive cultivation, Carnations were first grown in the Mediterranean region. They were a popular flower used in Greek ceremonial crowns, and many believe that’s where they got their name: from “coronation” or “corone”. Often referred to as the flower of god, these flowers were used in the Greek’s everyday life and even mentioned in their literature.

Christians believe that the first Carnations bloomed from the tears of Mary when Jesus was carrying his cross.

Nowadays, Carnations are mainly grown in Colombia, Israel, and Spain, with exports going primarily to the US. With Colombia leading the majority of flower exports worldwide, it’s very likely that the Carnations at your local florist come from South America.

What Carnations Represent

When you see Carnations, you mainly think of love, purity, and elegance, but the flower has a very deep meaning and symbolism in different parts of the world, with stories that often go beyond its external beauty. The Carnation is the national flower of Spain, Monaco, Slovenia, and the state flower of Ohio.

It was also the flower that represented Portugal’s Carnation Revolution which took place on April 25, 1974. This peaceful revolution took its name when a lady walking down the streets of Lisbon placed a red Carnation in the pipe of a soldier’s rifle. Shortly after, many soldiers started doing the same, and the flower became the symbol of this important holiday for the Portuguese. This ultimately marked the end of a repressive dictatorship of more than 40 years. Since then, the Portuguese have celebrated this historical event and remember it with Carnations.

Today, the Carnation is celebrated on different occasions in different countries:

• In France, purple Carnations are used for funerals due to their subtle scent and longevity, since they can last up to 14 days after being cut, while other flowers last an average of 7 days.

• In the Netherlands, white Carnations are often used to remember veterans and a symbol of resistance during World War II.

• In Italy and Austria, red Carnations are the symbol of the labor movement on International Workers Day.

• In Korea, pink and red Carnations are worn on Parent’s Day as a symbol of admiration.

Giving the Ideal Carnation

The flower is particularly popular during Mother’s Day, gifted in any color, but when expressing sentiment, each color has its own meaning:

• White: Ideal to wish good luck and express innocence. Give a white Carnation when you want to let someone know that they’re sweet and you think of them dearly.

• Red: Like with many other flowers, red is mainly used to express passion, deep love, and admiration, often gifted to partners, spouses, and mothers. The darker the shade of red, the more intense is the feeling you’re expressing.

• Orange: This color is perfect to represent happiness and success, often used to represent a sense of warmth.

• Blue: When thinking of peace, devotion, and spirituality, people often gift blue carnations. These are very popular among weddings since they represent true love between the bride and groom.

No matter the occasion, Carnations are the ideal flower to help capture sweetness, positivity, and passion.

Take a look at the different arrangements we have available by searching “Carnation” on SnapBlooms.com and pre-order your Mother’s Day bouquet today.