Forget-me-nots are beautiful, delicate flowers that have captivated people for centuries. Their light blue petals and sunny yellow centers evoke feelings of remembrance, love, and connection. In this article, we’ll explore the history, meaning, and symbolism behind these tiny blossoms.
A Name That Captures the Imagination
The common name “forget-me-not” first emerged in 15th century Germany from the German phrase “vergissmeinnicht.” There are a few legends about how these flowers got their evocative name.
One of the most popular tales is about a knight and his lady love walking along the banks of the Danube river. The lady spotted some bright blue flowers being swept away in the river’s current. Wanting to retrieve them for her, the knight jumped in to grab them, but the river’s flow carried him away as he called back to his love “forget me not!”
Another legend says that while God was naming all the flowers this tiny one cried out “forget me not O Lord!” So God named it accordingly. Whatever the origins, the name forget-me-not captures the imagination and the delicate beauty of the bloom.
True Love and Fidelity
In the language of flowers, forget-me-nots represent true and undying love, fidelity, and respect between two people.
Giving these blossoms to a loved one symbolizes your unwavering affection for them. The giver is making a promise to their beloved that they will never forget them and will keep them in their heart always.
During the Victorian era different flower meanings and symbolism were widely known. Forget-me-nots frequently appeared in bouquets and posies as messages of loyalty and enduring love.
So if you want to tell someone they have your complete devotion, few floral emblems impart this meaning as eloquently as the aptly named forget-me-not!
Remembrance and Memorials
While their moniker evokes remembrance, forget-me-nots have also become intertwined with commemorating and memorializing lost loved ones and historical events.
- In Newfoundland, the flower represents those who fought and died in World War I.
- In Armenia, it honors victims of the Armenian Genocide.
- It is the symbol for International Missing Children’s Day.
- The Alzheimer’s Society uses it to represent those who’ve lost memories due to the disease.
Forget-me-nots remind us to keep important people, moments, and history alive in our minds and hearts. The sight of their vibrant blue petals inspires us to never forget.
Royalty and Alaska’s State Flower
While less common associations today, forget-me-nots have regal ties too.
In medieval times, it was believed these blossoms sprang from the ground where knight’s loyal steeds pawed the earth. The flowers linked loyalty to royalty and noble knights.
Henry IV, King of England chose the forget-me-not as his symbol during his exile in 1398. It represented his unwavering hope that his kingdom would remember him and restore him to the throne, which did ultimately occur.
Forget-me-nots also have the distinction of being the state flower of Alaska. In 1917, the Alaska Territorial Legislature adopted the Alpine forget-me-not as a territorial flower. After Alaska became a state in 1959, it kept the forget-me-not as its official state blossom.
Growing These Sentimental Flowers
If you want to grow these sentimental flowers with such rich history and meaning, a few easy tips will help them flourish:
- Provide part shade to full sunlight exposure.
- Plant in organically rich, slightly acidic soil with good drainage.
- Keep soil moist, not saturated.
- Mulch in very cold climates.
- Allow plants to self-sow for perennial blooms.
- Avoid letting them spread rampantly.
With proper care, home gardeners can easily cultivate their own patches of forget-me-nots to enjoy.
The Significance Behind Their Beauty
Dainty and delicate forget-me-not flowers have woven their way into legends, royal heraldry, and organizations across the world.
But at the heart of their appeal is the poignant meaning behind their lovely blue petals. When given to another, they symbolize true love that lasts beyond time and place. They remind us to cherish unforgettable moments and carry the memory of loved ones in our hearts forever.
Forget-me-nots convey so much significance in such small blossoms. Perhaps that meaning, as much as their beauty, is what makes them unforgettable.
What Do Forget-Me-Nots Smell Like?
Forget me not flowers are unscented!
” Sending you forget-me-nots, to help me to remember. Baby please forget me not, I want you to remember. “.
The History of Forget-Me-Nots
The most common name for this flower comes from Germany, so of course there is a story about two lovers walking along the Danube River, which runs through Germany. A couple walks along the riverbank and finds some bright blue flowers. The man gets the flowers for the woman, but they fall into the water and are swept away. He tells her not to forget him, and thus, the name was born. One story says that his beloved wore those flowers in her hair until she died. Because of this, they also represent loyalty to your love.
Many sources say that the name of this flower comes from the Christian story of how the world was made.
One German story says that while God was giving each plant a name, a small plant that hadn’t been named yet called out to Him and said, “Do not forget me, O Lord!” God replied by giving the plant the same name.
Another legend states a different side of the story. Apparently, God was busy giving all the flowers their colors but missed out on one. He heard a tiny whisper saying, “Forget me not!” It came from none other than a tiny flower. God only had a little blue left, so He gave it to this flower. The flower was overjoyed when it got it.
Another story says that Jesus was sitting on the Virgin Mary’s lap and told her that He wished everyone could see her beautiful eyes one day. He then touched her eyes and waved His hand over the ground. As a result, the blue forget-me-not bloomed. Planting these in your garden would signify that the Virgin’s eyes are watching over you.
Besides the Freemasons, the Alzheimer’s Society, and the Armenian Genocide that began in 1915, these blue flowers (and sometimes pink flowers!) have also been claimed by Turkey. All use them as an icon to raise awareness and support.
It’s not a big surprise that these flowers have a history of representing remembering, both love and those we’ve lost.
People believe that they can protect people from witches and are also a sign of luck and protection.
During his exile in 1398, King Henry IV of England used this flower as a lucky charm. When he came back with them, the myosotis sylvatica became his very own symbol.
Are you born in September? Yes?! Well, you better not forget forget-me-nots, because they’re your birth flower. For people in Alaska, the reason is even stronger: they were named the state flower of Alaska in 1949. [2].
Forget Me Nots – The Meaning of Plants
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