The language, legends and history for the gladiola - the flower for those born in the month of August.
Every flower has a history and every flower symbolizes something. Often the history and symbols are confusing and contradictory but they are still fascinating. If your birthday is in the month of August, your flower is the gladiola. Here is the story and language of your flower.
Linguistic Roots for the Name Gladiola
The gladiola is one of those rare plants that is most commonly referred to by a variant of its botanical/Latin name gladiolus.
The common names for the gladiola are glad, corn-flag, corn iris, and sword-lily. The term corn-flag and corn iris refer to the fact that they are unwelcome pests in corn and grain fields. The name sword-lily is a reference to their Latin name.
The Latin term gladiolus is rich in meaning. The Roman sword was a gladius and a diminutive sword was a gladiolus. Linnaeus is attributed with naming the gladiolus and it is suggested that he borrowed from Pliny’s writings which referred to the plant’s sword-shaped leaves. The same word is the root for the word gladiator who was a soldier who “lived or died by the sword.” (Ward 167) It seems natural that a plant that shares its name with warriors would be a symbol for ‘strength of character.’
Legends Surrounding the Flower
Like many flowers that figure in Greek mythology, the gladiola is said to have sprung up from the blood of a person who died violently. When Hyacinthus was killed by Apollo’s reckless discus toss, Ovid said that the flowers that sprang up from his body were hyacinths. However, some argue that Ovid was wrong and that the blossoms were actually gladiolas.
Another story about a death that yielded gladiolas features the goddess Demeter. Demeter had a sacred grove near Thessaly. An irreverent man named Erisichthon would gather his firewood among the sacred trees. Some worshippers tried to stop him and he killed one by cutting of his head. Demeter caused sword-shaped plants to grow on the location and she named them gladiolus.
However, Demeter was not finished. She then caused Famine to enter the murderer’s body. The man became famished but no matter what he ate could not get his fill. He sold his daughter in order to buy food and Demeter turned her into a glad to help watch over the murdered man’s grave. In the end, Erisichthon depleted his wealth trying to assuage his hunger and when his money was gone, Famine caused him to turn on himself and eat himself.
Speaking with the Gladiola
Like so many flowers, the gladiola speaks of contradictory things. A bouquet that includes gladiolas can convey the following ideas or expressions: Strength of Character; Sincerity; Generosity; Natural Grace/ Eternal Sleep; Imagination; Oblivion.
Take a look at a complete list of Flowers of the Month.
Sources
Ward, Bobby J. A Contemplation Upon Flowers: Garden Plants in Myth and Literature. Timber Press, 2005.
Wells, Diana. 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1997
