The language, legends and history for the violet; the flower for those born in the month of February.

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 February, your flower is the violet. Here is the story and language of your flower.

Linguistic Roots for the Name Violet

According to John Gerard, the name and story of one of Zeus’s lovers resulted in the name for one of spring’s most sentimental flowers. The Greek word for violet is io. Io is a character in Greek mythology and the daughter of King Argos. Zeus loved her. However, Zeus was concerned that Hera would discover them and so he turned Io into a heifer and then created the sweet-scented flowers that we now know as violets for her to eat while in her heifer form.

The Language of Violets

During the Middle Ages, violets were a symbol for humility and modesty not only because of the blooming habits of the flower but also because of their association with the Virgin Mary. Shy people are often referred to as shy violets and the reason is clear when one looks at a blossoming violet. Often the flowers are tucked away beneath the beautiful dark green heart shaped foliage and only peek out from under their hiding spot. The retiring behavior of the flower made it a fitting symbol for Christ’s mother.

While the blooming habits of the flower made it a suitable symbol for the Virgin Mary, its growing habits were also seen as symbolic of Mary’s role in the spreading of Christianity. After the violet blooms in the spring, it sends out tendrils and runners to set up a host of new plants that cluster around the mother plant. As a result, violets spread rapidly and can even be considered invasive. This ability to spread rapidly was considered symbolic of Mary’s determination. Determination that the Church viewed as essential to the rapid spread of Church doctrine.

Violets also have a unique method of reproduction, known as cleistogamy, which is found in very few flowers. In other words, violets self-pollinate. Naturally, the ability to create seeds without the interference of a bee or another plant reminded believers of the Immaculate Conception.

The violet is also a symbol of immortality, resurrection, and spring. These qualities are found in another story of Greek gods in which the violet plays a role. The god Hades fell in love with the maiden Persephone. One day while Persephone was walking through a field of violets, Hades carried her away to his land of death. The world mourned her death and became barren until Hades relented and agreed that Persephone could walk on the earth from spring through fall.

A Human Love Story that Includes the Violet

The scent of violets was the favorite perfume of Josephine Bonaparte. When Napoleon returned from banishment in Elba, Josephine was dead. He picked a bouquet of violets for her grave before then being exiled to St. Helena. When Napoleon died, violets and a lock of Josephine’s hair were found in a locket.

Later the violet became a heraldic symbol for Napoleon and those who came after him.

Speaking with Violets

If you send violets to someone you are sending them a message of love, humility, modesty, resurrection, spring, and the immortal soul.

Read More

Take a look at a complete list of Flowers of the Month.

Learn more about the violet's culinary and medicinal uses.

Sources

Greenaway, Kate (illus), Marsh, Jean (text). The Illuminated Language of Flowers. Balance House, Ltd, 1978.

Heilmeyer, Marina. The Language of Flowers: Symbols and Myths. Prestel Verlag, 2001.

Wells, Diana. 100 Flowers and How They Got Their Names. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1997