Easter & Passover Flowers, Their Symbolic Meaning

BlogTulips

Apr 1

By Heather Bolen

Easter and Passover are holidays celebrated in the spring, a time of renewal and rebirth.

The two holidays embrace many of the same traditional flowers, including lilies, daisies, violets, carnations, irises, hyacinths, and tulips. The color and shape of these flowers carry the spiritual and emotional themes of purification, renewal, rebirth, and personal transformation.

PASSOVER

Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Flowers are often used to decorate the table during the Passover Seder (the traditional Passover meal) and to symbolize the themes of the holiday, such as freedom, renewal, and the beauty of nature.

Passover flowers are usually shades of blue and white, hues that are associated with purity and divinity respectively in the Jewish faith.

Hyssop is an evergreen plant that originally grew in southern Europe, the Middle East and central Asia. It’s classified as a garden herb, and is part of the mint family. Photo by Madeleine Steinbach / Shutterstock

In the Bible, the blue-purple hyssop plant is mentioned several times and makes its first appearance in Exodus during the first Passover. The plant served a practical purpose in helping to paint the blood of the lamb on the doorposts, but it also seems to mark the Israelites as "pure" and not recipients of the judgment God was bringing. The hyssop is used here along with a sacrifice of a lamb as protection for the Israelites that sets them apart from the Egyptians. This is the first Passover, and God commanded that it become an annual feast.

Throughout the Bible, the hyssop branch is linked to ceremonial cleansing and is symbolic of spiritual purification.

"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment….Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" —Psalm 51:4,7

Indeed, it is worth noting that flowers and other decorations should not distract from the focus of the Passover, which is on retelling the story of the Exodus and commemorating the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt. The focus will be on the food and the religious service, so keep your table uncluttered and simple.

Moreover, because Seder is governed by ritual, it is best to give flowers that are already potted or placed in a water-filled vase. According to Jewish law, your host is prohibited from certain types of work during Passover, which includes any type of cultivation or planting. If you give a bouquet that is not placed in a vase, Jewish law dictates that it be left to wilt on the counter.

EASTER

The holiday celebrates Easter Sunday as the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection, which is written in the New Testament of the Bible. For Christians around the world, this symbolizes redemption for humankind, forgiveness for past wrongdoing, and an opportunity to live a better life.

For Easter, the most common flower is the Easter lily. This white, trumpet-shaped flower is often used in churches as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Its color represents purity and new beginnings, while its shape is reminiscent of a trumpet heralding the good news of Easter.

White lilies in nature — An Easter lily is a specific variety of lily that is native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. It is also known as the Bermuda lily or Japanese lily. Before 1941, the majority of the Easter Lily bulbs were exported to the United States from Japan. Today over 95% of all bulbs grown for the potted Easter Lily market are produced by just ten farms in a narrow coastal region straddling the California-Oregon border. Photo: takakophoto / Shutterstock

Dating back to Biblical lore, the lily is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. One of the most famous Biblical references is in the Sermon on the Mount, when Christ told his listeners:

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet..... Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

The Lily of the Valley symbolizes the Advent of Christ and the purity of the Virgin Mary. It is used to decorate churches and homes during the holiday.

Here are the symbolic meanings of other springtime blooms often associated with Easter and Passover celebrations. More often than not, however, they are valued on these occasions simply for their bright colors, representing the joy and hope that comes with a strong belief in God.

Lily of the Valley is a small flowering plant that is native to Europe and Asia. It is known for its delicate, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in spring and its sweet, distinctive fragrance. Photo by Julia Kicova / Unsplash

LILIES

White flowers of all types symbolize purity and innocence. In addition to the significance of the Easter Lily, other members of the Lily family, like Lily of the Valley, are popular options. For Easter, Lilies of the Valley were mentioned by King Solomon several times and referenced by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. Lilies of the Valley also commonly mean a return to happiness as well as prosperity, and are, therefore, a fitting theme for Passover. In addition, for Passover, the Stargazer lily is linked with spirituality and is considered a guiding force to lead you out of despair.

DAFFODILS

These trumpet-like blooms are usually the first to awaken the season and herald new beginnings. Indeed, daffodils are the birth flower for March. The bright yellow color of daffodils embraces the joyfulness of the occasion. In some cultures, daffodils are associated with good fortune and prosperity, and they are believed to bring luck and happiness to those who receive them.

TULIPS

Tulips are the ultimate spring flower. Colorful, beautiful, and vibrant. White tulips symbolize forgiveness and apology, a common theme for Easter.

Vase of creamy daisies — Gerbera daisies, also known as Gerber daisies, are a type of flowering plant that is native to South Africa. Photo by Elana Selvig /Unsplash

DAISY

Daisies are as innocent as it gets. Bright and bold, their cheerfulness is perfect for Easter and Passover. They are an effective way to display the bright future embodied in the Passover celebration, while white daisies symbolize the hope, serenity, and purity associated with Easter.

IRIS

In Christian symbolism, the three petals of the iris represent the Holy Trinity and are associated with faith, hope, and love. The upright petals of the iris are also said to symbolize the three virtues: faith, valor, and wisdom, which harken back to Greek mythology in which the goddess Iris was the personification of the rainbow and served as a messenger between the gods and mortals. Irises are available in several different colors, but deep blue is an appropriate choice and, once again, conveys a meaning of hope and admiration central to the occasion.