Yellow flowers as symbol of parting: Folklore and reasoning behind omen
A girl holding yellow roses (collage: Styler)
Even the most beautiful bouquet can have an unexpected symbolic meaning. Since ancient times, people have associated specific flowers with love, loyalty, and happiness, but some were attributed a completely different meaning - ranging from jealousy to separation.
Here are superstitions about gifted flowers and found out what they mean.
About separation, betrayal, and quarrels
If you were given yellow roses or tulips
According to superstition, yellow flowers from a loved one foreshadow separation. Both roses and tulips are interpreted this way. For example, if a guy brings them on a date, a girl who believes in the omen might perceive the bouquet as a hint of a farewell.
There is also a legend about betrayal associated with yellow roses. According to one version, a husband suspected his wife of infidelity. He was advised to tell her to throw red roses into the water. The roses turned yellow, and he took this as confirmation of his suspicions.
In 19th-century flower dictionaries, it mattered little which specific flower was chosen for the bouquet. In Kate Greenaway's "Language of Flowers," a yellow rose meant jealousy or fading love, while a yellow tulip signified hopeless love.
However, these interpretations belong to the Victorian tradition, not to ancient Ukrainian customs. Over time, they have been reconsidered: today, yellow roses are more often given as a sign of friendship and joy. According to the Bodleian Libraries blog, a yellow tulip could signify both hopeless love and cheerful thoughts.
If the bouquet withered quickly or a rose pricked a finger
When gifted flowers do not last even a day in a vase, according to belief, the bouquet was given "not from the heart." This is how everyday life sometimes explains why one rose brings joy for almost a week, while another droops by morning.
There are also superstitions about rose thorns. If you prick yourself while unwrapping the bouquet, it foreshadows a quarrel with the person who gave it to you.
Which plants were blamed for causing quarrels in the home
According to one domestic superstition, gifted ivy brings quarrels to the family, and sometimes separation. Similar things were said about hoya, which was called "widow's tears."
Among yellow flowers, British folklore also mentions gorse - a thorny shrub. There is a playful saying about it recorded by Plant-Lore: you can kiss your loved one as long as the gorse is in bloom. Interestingly, however, individual flowers can be found on it even in winter, so the "kissing season" lasts almost the entire year.
How petals were used to divine love and loyalty
For the familiar "loves me, loves me not" divination, a single daisy is enough. You think of the person you like and pluck the petals one by one. On the first, you say "loves me," on the second, "loves me not," and so on until the last one. Whichever word the petals end on will be the answer.
However, in some Swiss villages, as described in "Flora’s Pocket Dictionary," boys and girls would "test" loyalty using a poppy. One petal was placed in the hollow of the left palm, and the right hand was clapped over it. If the petal popped with a sharp sound, it was considered a sign of loyalty. If it remained intact, betrayal was suspected.
This custom has ancient roots. Lovers used a similar method of divination in Ancient Greece: the Byzantine dictionary "Suda" explains the Ancient Greek word for a poppy or anemone petal, which was used to test feelings. The petal was placed on the left palm and struck with the right hand, and a loud clap was considered a good omen.
