Flowers carry significance in numerous religions.
Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism are among the many religions that imbue flowers with symbolic meaning. While some faiths associate flowers with specific saints or deities, other blossoms are thought to help worshipers find peace and serenity. The lily and the lotus are two flowers noted for their religious connotations, but there are many others as well.
Lily
Because they are emblematic of the Virgin Mary, white lilies are often called Madonna lilies.
The Grecians linked lilies to fertility and femininity, and brides often wore crowns of lilies. In Christianity, the white lily (Lilium candidum) is the flower of the Virgin Mary and symbolizes her purity and morality, which is way the plant is commonly referred to as the Madonna lily. The association between Mary and the lily was so poignant that between 1472 and 1474, Leonardo da Vinci painted "Annunciation", a painting that chronicles the moment when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her of her destiny as the mother of Christ. In the painting, he carries a lily.
Lotus Blossoms
Buddhists believe that white lotuses are divine and sacred.
Both Buddhism and Hinduism honor lotus blossoms. According to energy-healing-info.com, the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text, says humankind should seek to emulate the lotus blossom. The flower, though rooted in the earth, flourishes above its mud and water environment. The religion emphasizes that every person has the spirit of a lotus within, and nurturing this spirit will help mankind rise above the muck of earthly life. Buddhism breaks down lotus symbolism by color. White is indicative of spiritual enlightenment, red lotuses stand for love, and blue lotus blossoms inspire intellectual concentration.
Roses
Thanks to their lushness and beauty, the Romans dedicated roses to Venus, goddess of love. The flower remained important to early Christians. White roses were associated with the purity of Christ, while red roses represented his bloody sacrifice on the cross.
Marigolds
Marigolds are favored in such religious celebrations as India's Diwali Festival.
Marigolds flourish in marshes and alongside streams, and are known for having a goblet-like blossom. Aztecs honored the fiery orange-red flower and called it "cempasuchil." Their appreciation has endured, and the flower is often used in wreaths, crosses and garlands during the Mexican Dias de los Muertos. According to diwalifestival.org, marigolds, along with mango leaves, are commonly used in decoration and as offerings in India's Diwali festival, also known as a festival of lights. The marigold's vibrant tangerine petals make it popular in a culture that cherishes color.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are a symbol of lost love in Grecian myths.
Despite their cheery appearance, Greek mythology associates the sunflower with a sense of heartache. When Clytie, (a girl who was either a Babylonian water nymph or a princess), fell in love with Apollo, he returned her affections. His love, however, was superficial, and he soon abandoned her. She spent her days weeping and watching as Apollo led the sky across the sky. Her grief was so profound that, at last, the gods took pity on her and ended her mortal suffering by turning her into a sunflower that still tracked the sun's daily progression. Sunflowers are composed of florets, (otherwise known as small flowers), that are in the shape of the sun's rays and are clustered together in shades of yellow, orange and red.
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