Symbolism of Carnations

Carnations are often worn on special occasions, especially Mother's Day and weddings. They were known as "Jove's Flower" in ancient Rome as a tribute to one of their beloved gods. In Korea, red and pink Carnations are used for showing their love and gratitude toward their parents on Parents Day (Korea does not separate Mother's Day and Father's Day, but has Parents Day on May 8). Sometimes, you can see old parents wear a corsage of Carnation(s) on their left chest on Parents Day. Not only on Parents Day, but also on Teacher's Day (May 15), people express their admiration and gratitude to their teachers with Carnations, as Carnation has the meaning of 'admiration','love', and 'gratitude'.

The carnation is also the symbol of the Portuguese Carnation Revolution.

For the most part, carnations express love, fascination, and distinction. Light red carnations represent admiration, while dark red denote deep love and affection. White carnations indicate pure love and good luck; striped symbolize a regret that a love cannot be shared. Green carnations are for St. Patrick's Day, and, in the 19th Century, were used as a secret gay code; purple carnations indicate capriciousness. Pink carnations have the most symbolic and historical significance. According to a Christian legend, carnations first appeared on Earth as Jesus carried the Cross. The Virgin Mary shed tears at Jesus' plight, and carnations sprang up from where her tears fell. Thus the pink carnation became the symbol of a mother's undying love, and in 1907 was chosen by Ann Jarvis as the emblem of Mother's Day, now observed in the United States and Canada on the second Sunday in May. A red carnation may be worn if one's mother is alive, and a white one if she has died.

The Carnation is also the birth flower for those born in the month of January.

In some cultures, however, especially the French culture, the carnation symbolizes misfortune and bad luck.

At Oxford University, carnations are traditionally worn to all examinations — white for the first exam, pink for exams in between and a red for the last exam.

The stete flower of Ohio is a scarlet carnation. The choice was made to honor William McKinley, Ohio Governor and U.S. President, who was assassinated in 1901, and regularly wore a scarlet carnation on his lapel.

The carnation is a traditional funeral flower in France, given in condolence for the death of a loved one.

In Hungary, the carnation is seen as a symbol of aggression, and giving a large number of carnations can be seen as a death treat.

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