The Star of Bethlehem

 One day this summer I was watching an episode of "Royal Pains" (one of my favorite shows) where a florist was one of the main characters. Apropos of I-don't-remember-what, he said that the Star of Bethlehem means reconciliation. That sent me into research mode..... no surprise there.

The official name of the "Language of Flowers" is "floriology." Using flowers to send a message probably dates to prehistoric times as symbolic use of flowers is mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions, in Chinese writings and in both Greek and Roman mythology.

In the 1600’s there was an actual "language" of flowers used in Turkey allowing specific messages sent of great importance through a seemingly harmless bouquet. Flowers could declare intentions, indicate acceptance, announce dismissal or even arrange a rendezvous. Flowers gained meanings which enabled lovers to convey messages to each other without having to write or talk. Shakespeare alludes to the meaning of plants and flowers in some of his writing -- in Act 4, Scene 5 of Hamlet, Ophelia says "There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts." The passing of messages via the floral code was then adopted by the French, and returned to England during the reign of Queen Victoria. Mme. Charlotte de la Tour wrote the first flower dictionary in 1818 in Paris. Entitled Le Language des Fleurs, it was very popular.. A Victorian lady, Miss Corruthers of Inverness, wrote a book on the subject in 1879. Her book became the standard for flower symbolism both in England and the United States.

The Society of American Florists website on this subject claims that the Star of Bethlehem stands for hope rather than reconciliation. I'm quite willing to accept both, and believe that the flower, like the actual star of Bethlehem, stands for "hope of reconciliation" -- in the floral sense between two persons, and in the spiritual sense between God and mankind.

If I could send each of my readers a bouquet this Christmas, it would contain gardenia for joy, violet for faithfulness, geranium for comfort, and azalea for abundance. Lacking that ability this evening, I can only send you my wish that God's grace be with you at this special time of the year.