Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

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Flower giving before Shakespeare

Hello flower addicts and Shakespeare lovers,

My name is Lynda and I have been saying it with flowers for most of my life, so Shakespeare and I have much in common because his love of flowers shines through as he describes in evocative detail the plant material and countryside of England. I am your host this week, and I would love to hear from you all. Please post on this site any questions you have and I will do my best to answer them.

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Its no surprise that Shakespeare loved flowers and embraced them in his poetry and writings, he will have known from his forefathers and from reading the classics at school that flowers have played a symbolic part throughout history. From time immemorial flowers have been a huge element in life's major events, birth, courtship, marriage and death, and all important ceremonies, not to mention seduction and love. Saying it with flowers can be traced back to the earliest civilizations.

Wealthy ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians all used flowers lavishly. Their elaborate food tables would be strewn with Rose petals and decorated with Acanthus, Poppies, Laurel and Palm leaves. In Roman days it was a mark of wealth and status to have your own garland maker. Homes were festooned with garlands for weddings and celebrations, and wreaths and fillets adorning the hair of the bride and groom.

In ancient Greece the greatest sportsmen of the day the 'Victor Ludorum' were presented with chaplets made of Laurus Nobilis (Bay leaves.) Today at funerals a Laurel Chaplet is still given as a mark of respect and esteem for champions and heroes, and associated with prowess and honour. The ancient Greeks had a God for every conceivable occasion. A number of flowers derive their names from these Gods. Iris, Hyacinth, Narcissi, Ascelpia to name a few.

In ancient Egypt the walls in the tombs of the Pharaohs were decorated with flowers and vases and dried flowers and leaves from decorations have been found in their tombs.
So by the time William Shakespeare was born there was already a long history of flower giving and the Elizabethan era, the Golden age brought new and exotic flowers and plants from other lands. It was an exciting time. Where before gardens had been purely utilitarian now they became pleasurable ornamental places for the wealthy to show off. Potpourri was particularly popular and made in stillrooms in the home. Here the mistress of the house would concoct potions, scents and medicines made from herbs and dried flowers. Sanitation was poor, and regular bathing had not come into vogue so scents were used to camouflage odours and ward off illness. When walking in the street the Tudors carried pomanders of sweet smelling herbs, flowers and spices. These were hung from the waist, carried or worn as a necklace. Often ladies of the court and other dignitaries would carry posies of fragrant flowers these were called tussie muzzies. These posies can still be seen today being carried by the Queen and notable persons at the annual Maunday Thursday ceremony.
Favourite fragrant flowers in Tudor times were;
Musk, Damask and briar Roses.
Pansies,
Marigolds (Calendula,)
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Sweet Williams ( Diantus barbatus,)
Lavender.
Wallflowers (Erysimum.)

Pictured here is a floral chaplet made for the annual Shakespeare birthday parade in Stratford upon Avon.

I think Shakespeare's favourite flower must have been the Rose as it is mentioned so many times in his plays, sonnets and poetry.
Sonnet CXXX
'I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;'

Which do you think Shakespeare's favourite flower was?

Tomorrow is St. Valentines Day so log in tomorrow to find out what part flowers played in seduction and love.

Downloads

• Floral Chaplet detail (330.7KB jpeg)