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An Introduction to the Captivating Meanings Behind Flower Tattoos
“Pink, purple, blue and gold .”
Flowers grow free around the world for all to see. It
is no wonder then that flower tattoo designs have been worn for nearly as long
as the art of tattoo has existed. The rich diversity of modern America, combined
with great technological advances in tattoo equipment only seems to further
fortify the world’s fascination with floral designs. Like the buzzing
bee and the dancing butterfly, people everywhere are attracted to the beauty
and variety of flower tattoo designs.
Searching For The Perfect Statement?
For understandable reasons, people choosing tattoo designs are expecting to
express a certain amount of individuality. Because of this, there may be a hesitancy
to settle on a flower that seems to have attained some kind of “cookie-cutter”
mass appeal. But don’t worry, the incredible variety of designs ensures
that you will find a tattoo design that’s perfect for you. Tattoo artists
around the world have paid special attention to creating flower tattoo art so
that even the common rose can be found in thousands of shapes and sizes. The
choices are endless when you combine your flower design with a fairy, a butterfly
or a heart for a tattoo that is totally you. No matter if you picture a large
tropical flower design on your lower back or a small oriental wildflower tattoo
on your ankle you can be sure that your personal tattoo gallery will be unique.
Flower Tattoo Design: Popular Subjects
For enthusiasts searching for a tattoo design that has a timeless character
as opposed to being just a trendy flight of fancy, flowers offer an eternal
object that has earned our awe and admiration for as long as we have co-existed.
However, certain varieties of flower have held a more popular appeal than others.
it’s a good idea to consider the meaning of your tattoo. Seven of the
more popular varieties chosen as tattoo designs are further illustrated below.
- The Daffodil. As far as flowers go, daffodils
have come to take on several very different meanings. A few include: deceitfulness,
hope, unrequited love, and also regard.
The daffodil has been adopted by both the American Cancer Society, & the
Madame Curie Society, for whom it symbolizes simultaneously hope & disease.
- The Daisy. Daisies, in general, represent innocence.
However, different sub-categories of daisies have their own, unique meaning.
The white, wild daisy says, “I will think of it.” Colored daisies
represent beauty. The Michaelmas daisy bids farewell.
The daisy is the April herb specified by the English Herbal Calendar. According
to ancient Celtic legend daisies appeared from the spirits of children who
died at birth. God sprinkled these bright lovely flowers across the earth
to cheer the grieving parents.
- The Hibiscus. The hibiscus flower is overwhelmingly
recognized as a symbol for delicate beauty.
The hibiscus was first native to the warm climate of southern China, but later
moved to the Pacific Islands and finally, to the US in 1842.
- The Lily. There is an interesting amount of polarity
in what the different types of lilies signify. A water lily: purity of heart.
A calla lily: maiden modesty; beauty. The day lily: coquetry. The frog lily
shows disgust. The tiger lily whispers urgently, “I dare you to love
me.” White lilies: purity and sweetness. And, yellow lilies portray
coquetry, falsehood & flirtations.
An ancient Chinese proverb celebrated the majesty and fascination with the
lily – “When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy
a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.”
- The Lotus. Like the hibiscus flower, the lotus
flower is universally accepted as a symbol of estranged love and the associated
empty yearning it entails.
The lotus flower originated in Egypt and in India, and has had a major role
in the local myths and legends.
- The Rose. A hugely popular tattoo design subject,
the rose has come to mean different things to different people for nearly
as many different reasons. However, there are a few widely held traditional
meanings behind roses, making them quite eloquent flowers.
Red roses: unity and romance. Pink conveys the whisper, “Ours must be
a secret love...” White roses assure, “I am worthy of your love.”
White roses communicate charming simplicity. Rosebuds affirm youth and innocence
and can also mark one as too young to love. Sunny yellow roses rather glumly
convey warnings of jealousy, waning love or the hopeful promise, “Let
us forget….”
- The Sunflower. The sunflower, rich in appeal to
the very nature of its beauty, sunflowers are also a great way to communicate,
“You are splendid!”
According to the Greek myth of Clytia, sunflowers have a surprisingly romantic
history. Clytia was a beautiful water sprite who fell in love with the sun
deity, Apollo. For nine nights Clytia stood straight and tall, admiring him
and yearning for his attention. Somehow though, the god missed her, and her
love not captivating him, she was turned into a sunflower and continues to
bask in the sun’s glow even today.
While not the only popular flower varieties for tattoo designs, these seven
certainly top the charts.
Their timeless symbolism and admiration are further enhanced by the ease with
which flower designs can be integrated into nearly any style tattoo. A vine
of roses, Hawaiian blossoms, the mysterious orchid, and interwoven daisies make
great feminine armband designs. For a more masculine creation, you can incorporate
the strong symmetry and geometrical design of either tribal or Celtic style
artwork.
For those of you searching for a rare flower and what it symbolizes, check
out some of these meanings.
- ANGELICA Inspiration, magic
- AZALEA Moderation, temperance, your blush has won me
- BABY'S BREATH Pure of heart
- BLUEBELL Constancy, sorrowful regret
- BUTTERCUP Riches
- CARNATION Fidelity, love
- CHERRY-BLOSSOM Spiritual beauty
- CORNFLOWER Delicacy, refinement
- CROCUS Abuse not, gladness, mirth
- DANDELION Coquetry, love's oracle
- DOGWOOD Forgetfulness, love undiminished
- FLEUR-DE-LIS Message
- FOUR-O'CLOCK Timidity
- FUCHSIA Confiding love
- PEACH-BLOSSOM I am your captive
- GARDENIA Refinement
- GERANIUM Gentility, peaceful mind
- HONEYSUCKLE Bonds of love
- HYDRANGEA Boaster, heartlessness
- JASMINE I am too happy
- RHODODENDRON Beware, I am dangerous
- LANTANA I am unyielding
- MAGNOLIA Benevolence, high-souled, love of nature, magnificence
- MORNING-GLORY Affection, departure
- ORANGE-BLOSSOM Chastity, eternal love, marriage, bridal festivities
- SAFFRON Beware of excess pleasures, voluptuousness, you are perfectly lovely
- THISTLE Austerity, sternness
- TULIP (variegated) Enchantment, your eyes are beautiful
- ZINNIA Thoughts of absent friends
An eternal symbol of spring, life, rebirth, beauty and fertility, flowers
can be depended upon to entrance us for ages yet to come.
With the many different varieties and exotic meanings of flowers, it’s
entirely possible to choose a tattoo design that perfectly illustrates a powerful
message to you and all those around you.
Show me more Flower Tattoo Designs
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