The sweetest things

If you were born between Nov. 22 and Dec. 21, your zodiac sign is Sagittarius. The official Sagittarius flower is the carnation, a beautiful multi-petaled flower that comes in a wide variety of colors. While there is a different meaning for each color of carnation, they are generally associated with love and fascination. Just like Sagittarius signs, the carnation is adaptable. Because there are so many different shades of carnations, they can fit in with flower bouquets for every occasion. The carnation is also a resilient flower that lasts a long time, similar to how Sagittarians are known to be strong-willed and dependable. Below we’ve outlined more about the history, meaning and symbolism behind carnations. We’ve also put together a list of Sagittarius personality traits and other Sagittarius flowers.

Carnations in History

The carnation, also known as Dianthus caryophyllus, is one of the world’s oldest cultivated flowers, dating back to ancient Greek and Roman times. Historically, carnations have been featured in flower crowns, decorations and as the main ingredient in carnation teas used to treat stomach ailments. According to folklore, carnations originally sprouted from the Virgin Mary’s tears as she witnessed Jesus carry the cross. From this legend, carnations began to also symbolize a mother’s love. These days, carnations symbolize fascination, distinction and love. Carnations are one of the most popular flowers used in bouquets for every occasion. They are featured in Mother’s Day bouquets, wedding bouquets and arrangements for romantic occasions.

Meaning and Symbolism Behind the Sagittarius Birth Flower

Carnations are beautiful, durable flowers with a ruffled appearance that represent distinction, fascination and love. These flowers make for fantastic arrangements to show love on a wedding anniversary or to show gratitude to your mother on Mother’s Day. Because carnations come in a variety of colors, they’re flexible to almost any occasion.

Here are the meanings of each carnation color:

• White: White carnations signify purity and luck. They make for a great gift to express your best wishes to someone celebrating their wedding or graduation.
• Light Red: Light red carnations are vibrant symbols of admiration. They are perfect for showing affection for someone, especially when paired with dark red carnations.
• Dark Red: Dark red carnations represent love and affection, making them a great addition to a Valentine’s Day arrangement. When you want to show passionate love, dark red carnations go a long way.
• Pink: Pink carnations signify gratitude and a mother’s love. To show someone you appreciate them, pink carnations make for a sweet gesture.

Regardless of which color you choose, carnations are a beautiful addition to almost any flower arrangement. Whether you’re using yellow carnations to apologize or dark red carnations to tell your partner you love them, this vibrant flower is great for expressing your feelings.

Other Sagittarius Flowers

Gladioli represent faithfulness, integrity and strength. They have a unique shape and come in all sorts of different colors including pink, purple, yellow, orange, burgundy and green. Additionally, the gladiolus can grow up to 6 feet tall, making it a noticeable flower that stands out from the crowd. The gladiolus flower inherited its name from the Latin word “gladius,” which means “sword.” For this reason, the Romans associated the flower with strength. In other cultures, the gladiolus flower was used for medicinal purposes, in order to remove thorns and splinters. Because this flower is known to symbolize faithfulness, it’s often used in bouquets for wedding anniversaries.

The protea flower gets its name from Proteus, the Greek god of the sea. This flower is large, resilient and comes in an abundance of different shapes and colors. Protea flowers have a distinct appearance of overlapping petals and stamens that sometimes resemble the pattern of an artichoke. The boldness of this flower earns it a reputation symbolizing courage and diversity. Protea flowers are believed to have been around for hundreds of millions of years. The flower’s ability to adapt and survive in any situation is part of what makes them the perfect flower for a Sagittarian. While the protea is the national flower of South Africa, these days its unique beauty can be found in places all over the globe.