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What is flower therapy and why is it good for you?

Flower bouquets are most commonly associated with “romance” and “gifts”. Usually, having a florist for delivery a bouquet of roses to your special someone is akin to professing your love for her. However, apart from viewing flowers as merely something material, have you ever found time to stop and smell the roses? It just might do you good.

Flower therapy is basically how flowers and blooms nourish your soul and keep you feeling refreshed. While it is a known fact that flower bouquets make excellent gifts for various occasions, they also stir up positive emotions in individuals and serve as great mood lifters. Research has also proven that blooms enrich our lives and reduce the stress levels in our lives. Read on to find out more about why flowers make the best gifts, which flowers are most suitable for which occasions and how flowers have the power to fill our lives with much joy.

Flower Bouquet

Flowers and emotions – Why do flowers still make the best gift since time immemorial?

Flowers are the best gift

This raises the question of how flower-gifting first came about. Here’s some history on how flower-gifting originated:

History, myths, and tales dating back to ancient Greece, Rome, China, and Egypt show that flowers were an essential aspect of social customs. During these times, it was through that emotions could most easily be expressed through the giving of flowers. Furthermore, Greek mythology is full of information regarding certain flowers being representations of gods and goddesses.

The tradition of giving flowers carried on to the Middle Ages, especially among the English and the French. It is believed that the tradition of giving a meaning to each type of flower was started in Europe after it was witnessed being done in Turkey.

The Victorians widely practiced this custom as well. During the Victorian era, expressing feelings in words was not considered good manners. Because of this, people demonstrated their feelings by giving flower bouquets. Additionally, the Victorians had many rules for giving flowers. For example, if someone bought an elegant bouquet of roses from a florist and presented it to the receiver upside down, the receiver was sure to be angry. This is because red roses were thought to symbolize anger if gifted upside down. (According to Essex Florist)

A bouquet of red roses

Since then, giving and sending bouquets of flowers has been used as a universally expression of love to loved ones. Be it happy or sad occasions, or for simply for no reason at all, flowers have been an integral part in most people’s daily lives. So why then has this tradition of gifting flowers manage to last through the centuries? 

We previously mentioned in an article that the intrinsic nature of flowers – the fact that flowers are not everlasting, they wither and die, remind us that life is such and it is worth it to cherish every moment. Nothing lasts forever in this world except time. As humans, we live only once and we are compelled to celebrate positive moments that come by. It is in our innate nature to want to do so. Simply because we are somehow pre-programmed to subconsciously know that special moments are unique and that they will not occur exactly the same way again. To make these special moments last, we celebrate them so that they own a place in our memories for years to come.

We are drawn to flowers

When we look at flowers, the colour, the bloom and their frailness, a part of us gets emotionally because flowers are able to bring out an unexplained sense of hope. It motivates us to press on because despite how fragile they are, flowers survive through the most dreadful storms. Though seemingly fragile, they are resilient too and they are nature’s way of reminding us that life is beautiful despite any setbacks. The fragility and shortness of its’ lifespan is a constant reminder that time waits for no one and that we should treasure life and make the most out of it. The beautiful blossoms of flowers give us a sense of wonder, hope, telling us that there will always be sunshine after the rain.

beautiful blossoms of flowers

Not only do they motivate us psychologically, flowers also ignite our sense of love and passion. The language of flowers can also be translated and interpreted as a language of love. The beauty, colours and smell of flowers trigger a string of emotions, joy and romance. A bold display of affection from your other half shows just how much he cares about you and you often see couples gifting flower bouquets as sweet surprises. Red roses which symbolise passionate love are a hot favourite during months such as February – due to Valentine’s Day. No matter the cost, beaus can be seen online shopping or lining up at florists to purchase bouquets of roses for their girlfriends or wives. Simply, nobody can resist a sweet bouquet of flowers. And what makes it even better? By attaching a handwritten personal message to accompany the bouquet.

Why give flowers?

What are the different meanings of flowers and when is the appropriate occasion to gift them?

A bouquet of orchids – Singapore’s National Flower. However, it could also be given to someone who deserves praise. For a friend who just graduated from school or a close buddy who got that well-deserved promotion at work.

graduation eeyore bouquet

Graduation – For friends who are graduating, a hand bouquet of sunflowers or daisies is the most popular choice. For an added touch of cuteness, add a graduation plush to it and make the moment even more instagrammable.

graduation flower bouquet

Sad occasions = Every rose has its thorns. Flowers are also an appreciated gesture for others in a not-so-rosy situation. For events such as the passing of a loved one, a thoughtful flowers for condolences shows your concern and helps ease the grief of the family.

Sticky situations – When you mess up and forget a milestone of a budding relationship, you’ll want the best chance of coming out of the situation. A lovely hand bouquet is the perfect way to say you’re sorry. Your partner will be pleasantly surprised at your efforts and her anger will likely fade as she holds the bouquet of aromatic blooms.

say sorry with flowers

Just because – You don’t always need a special reason to give someone a gift. One of the easiest ways to make someone’s day is to simply order a flower delivery to your friend or family, for no reason other than the fact that you want to bring a smile to their face. Bouquet delivery in Singapore is easy to arrange for. Florists such as 24HrsCityFlorist usually take orders online or over the phone. However, florists usually require time to create your bouquet and it also depends on the availability of flowers at the moment.

Special occasions – People give flowers to one another to celebrate a special personal occasion or an event, an anniversary, a Mother’s Day etc.

Why flowers make the best gifts

flowers are always the best gift

In one of our articles, we mentioned that flowers have long been given as gifts since time in memorial and is considered a symbol of love and care. However, flowers have gone beyond just symbolizing romance.  

For as long as anyone can remember, flowers have been given as a gift for all sorts of different occasions. Valentine’s Day is perhaps the day where flowers get the most play, with rose bouquets in particularly high demand, but they truly are the perfect gift for any occasion. Roses are a perfect example of how flowers can be used to convey a specific motion or feeling. Red roses are all about love and passion, while yellow roses are often used to convey friendship and feelings of gratitude. There truly is a rose for all occasions but that can also be said for any flower.

Valentine’s Day Rose Bouquet

Not only do they convey specific meanings through its symbolisms and meanings, blooms bring a smile to people’s face and can brighten up someone’s day. They’re considered beautiful due to their vivid colours and multitude of interesting shapes and sizes. Being aesthetically pleasing, they also serve as inspiration to many. Flowers have often been captured in countless pieces of art, from classic impressionistic paintings to even abstract pieces of art. 

When you visit a flower shop, you can’t help but smile as you catch sight of the flowers on display and smell the delightful scents that each give off. It’s not surprising that you feel this way, as research has shown that flowers have a way of making people feel happy, even when they are feeling at their very lowest point. Many flowers have natural scents that they emit when in bloom. Plants have also been shown to remove toxins from the air, depending on the position that they are placed. If they receive enough ventilation to disperse throughout the space and help spread the natural perfume of the flowers, it helps serve as a natural way to freshen up the air quality in a room. Flowers have also been commonly used in perfumes or colognes to mask odours and attract others.

Flowers bring freshness to homes

Flowers are also a great way to fill a space and make people feel at home in their new house. This is especially true if the new home does not yet have all the furnishing and accessories in place. A bare room can take on a whole new vibrancy once flowers have been added into the mix. They bring life to every room and depending on the type of flower chosen, the mood and setting of the room can differ greatly. Choose the right blooms to bring about the right mood!

condolence flowers

As such, during funerals, mostly white and dull coloured flowers are used for bouquets. Condolences flowers are a very common gift, and while their colour and beauty may seem at odds with the sadness of the event, it is also the traits they bring that can make the day a little brighter for all involved. If you’re trying to think of a gift that will let someone know that you are thinking about them, a flower delivery is perhaps the best way to do so. Why not also take the time to pen a heart-warming message for your recipient to let him/her know that she is not going through the tough time alone?

Some practical functions that flowers also serve include:

Pest Repellent – Some flowers, such as marigolds, act as natural pest repellents. By surrounding your garden with such species will help deter pests from destroying your other plants.

Pollination – In science, we’re all aware that flowers do play an important role in the growth of other flowers, fruits and vegetables. Live flowers in the garden attract bees, butterflies and the like, which move pollen from one plant to another.

Food – Some flowers can be eaten as garnishes in cooking. Some edible flowers include carnations, lilies and one of the most common, lavender.

What does gifting flowers say about the sender?

Rutgers University researchers examine the gifts we choose say about who we are and whether they affect how we are perceived. An article on our blog had previously explained how the research reveals that those who send flowers, in comparison to other gifts, are viewed as caring, successful and emotionally intelligent people.

Every day, millions of gifts are exchanged by people who want to send thoughtful regards to deserving friends and loved ones. According to the research, the presents we pick convey our special messages say alot about us.

Rutgers University researcher Jeanette Haviland – Jones, PHD Director of the University’s Human Emotions Lab, explored what the gifts we choose say about who we are and whether they affect how we are perceived. The research reveals that those who send flowers, in comparison to other gifts, are viewed as successful, caring and emotionally intelligent people.

Both men and women who given flowers are perceived as happy, achieving, strong, capable and courageous people; Men and women come across as more emotionally intelligent, they give the impression that they can effectively express their feelings and take time to understand the feelings of others. Female floral gifters are viewed as more appreciative of beauty and nature.

“Our findings show that you can influence and change what people think of you in a significant way through the gifts you give”, says Haviland – Jones. “That news is particularly important to those interested in enhancing friendships and romances, even business relationships.”

According to the study, flowers have also been known to be natural mood enhancers. When given as a gift, they put a smile on the face of the receiver. This act is considered a primary response of receiving flowers. The simple act of receiving such a gift can increase positive thinking for several days following the initial acceptance of this gift. In these studies, people who received flowers as gifts interacted better in social situations, standing at inviting distances as opposed to impersonal ones.

Because they increase positivity in moods, they reduce levels of anxiety. Mood responses, such as stress and anxiety reduction, are considered a secondary response to enjoying flowers.

Upon receiving a gift of flowers, the female study participants responded with true smiles and reported positive moods that lasted for days. The presence of flowers also led to increased contact with family and friends. “Flowers have evolved to activate positive emotional responses from people,” says Haviland – Jones. “Each bloom has the potential to put a smile on our face and sway our opinion of a friend, colleague or loved one. That’s powerful“.

M.J Ryans, award-winning author of the Random Acts of Kindness book series and The Giving Heart teaches individuals how gratitude and generosity can result in greater happiness, health and feelings of human connectivity.

“Gift recipients experience compelling connections with givers, and the positive link is particularly evident in the exchange of flowers,” says Ryan. “In my everyday work with individuals, CEOs and leadership teams at some of the world’s top global companies, I see the powerful implications of gratitude an appreciation.”

“A successful person is not necessarily someone with a lot of money and material goods, but rather someone who is in tune with people and knows how to touch their hearts,” says Ryan. “I can think of no other item besides flowers that evoke such positive feelings and perceptions for both the giver and the recipient.” (Souce: About flowers.com)

So what does this all mean?

As a famous quote from the film, “Forrest Gump” says, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what life will throw at you next as it’s unpredictable. As such, there are bound to be ups and downs in the course of your life. What can be constant however, is the willpower to stay motivated and positive through all the setbacks you go through. This is where flower therapy comes in.

Why not opt for a natural yet simple mood lifter? Flower bouquets are readily accessible and easy to get, yet they put a smile on someone’s face easily. Be it for yourself or for a loved one, everyone needs a little perk-me-up and personal note of encouragement along the way. Flowers, apart from their functional and aesthetic purposes, also serve as symbols of strength and delicateness. On an emotional, spiritual and physical level – flower therapy may just be one of the most accessible and oldest forms of therapy available.

Written by: Elizabeth Tan

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