Flowers play an important role during the Easter season.

Some flowers are even

called Easter flowers because of the significance and symbology they hold in
relating to this time of year. Most common is the Easter lily; these white flowers
represent the spiritual essences of not just the Christian holiday of Easter but
the older more traditional meaning. They are the delicate embodiment of renewed
life, hope and purity.

Easter lilies are the most frequently associated Easter flower and are a native of
the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan, however the US currently controls the growth
market of the Easter lily. Currently the most commonly found and grown Easter lily
is a variety known as Nellie white, this variety has the traditional Easter flower
shape of large, white, trumpet shaped flowers. These Easter flowers are also often
called the “white robed apostles of hope” and are found on altars everywhere
during the Easter season.

Easter lilies are not the only Easter flowers, in the United Kingdom and Russia
it’s the pussy willow that is there traditional Easter flower. Another still
commonly found Easter flower is the Narcissus. Commonly given flowers at Easter
time are Daffodils, tulips and in Germany some types of red flowers, red
symbolizing the blood of Christ.

Still out of all the Easter flowers the Easter lily reigns supreme mentioned many
times in the bible, from the Garden of Eden to the Sermon on the Mount, the
traditional Easter lily has been mentioned. Lilies have often played a significant
role in allegorical tales and are related to motherhood and is closely associated
with the Virgin Mary, paintings show the Angel Gabriel offering Mary lilies, when
he came to speak to her passing the message that she was to the be mother of
Christ. Some legends state that when the Virgin Mary’s tomb was visited three days
after her burial just like with her son, it was empty of her body and only bunches
of lilies remained.

Lilies are often associated with the Annunciation, or the resurrection of the
Virgin, tying them in closely with the spirit of Easter. Another reason why
flowers are bulb flowers like the lily are closely associated with Easter is the
type of care they require, bulb plants need a freeze in order to bloom
successfully, this ties in perfectly with the traditional meaning of the Easter
season. After the frozen time of winter they are renewed and reborn, just as
people of ancient times believed spring to be. The pure white color and gentle
tones remind us of the innocence and purity of renewed and new life.

As such Easter lilies make the perfect Easter flower. They bring together
traditions of the old and the new, representing both worlds and means for the
Easter holiday season. They are also a great Easter gift that keeps on giving year
after year. Less often used flowers are the chrysanthemum, carnation, daisy and
even sunflowers have found their way into the Easter flower tradition.