The legend of the orchid
For the ancient Greeks, the first orchid was born from the metamorphosis of Orchis , the son of a Nymph and a Satyr. Orchis was a passionate young man, popular for his beauty and boldness. It was the audacity that betrayed him: Orchis fell in love with a Priestess of the God Dionysus and tried to seduce her with strength and decision ... unfortunately this gamble unleashed the wrath of the God who decided to feed him to the wild beasts.
The gods of Olympus, moved by the story, transformed the remains of the young man into a flower, a flower that was the antithesis of the boy: the boy was contemptuous, the delicate flower. The boy was strong, the thin flower.
This is how the first orchid was born, slender, elegant and delicate… the opposite not only of the temperament but also of the exuberant body of the young man.
Orchid: meaning of the flower
The word Orchid , as stated, derives from the name Orkhis whose meaning is, literally, "testicle". Yep, you just discovered that the meaning of the words of such an elegant flower is just…. testicle! This name is linked to the legend described but also to Theophrastus, the botanist who first identified the flower and noticed a clear similarity between the fleshy roots and the attributes of the male anatomy.
There are over 20,000 species of orchids. One of the most famous species is the Phalaenopsis Orchid . It is called Phalaenopsis because those who first observed it mistaken its flowers for large white moths.
Speaking again of the meaning of the name, one of the main orchid genera is called Paphiopedilum. This name derives from the Greek word Paphos, whose meaning can be traced back to the temple where the Greek Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, was worshiped. It is here that one of the roots that reconnect the orchid to the symbol of the purest love arises, despite the Greek meaning of the name!
Let's move on to the meaning of the orchid in the language of flowers by reconnecting the flower to the color.
- The white orchid is a symbol of innocence, purity, refinement and reverence. It can be given as a gift to show deep love, but it is an innocent and lasting love. This is why white orchids are always included in the decoration of the bride's bouquet.
- The pink orchid is a symbol of femininity , grace, cheerfulness and joy.
- Yellow orchids are a symbol of friendship, its meaning is related to new beginnings and good wishes. They are great to give to a friend who has reached a milestone.
- Purple orchids are probably the finest. If the white orchid is a symbol of reverence, the purple orchid has a meaning of greater depth, it symbolizes subjection, royalty and the most tenacious admiration.
- The orange orchid symbolizes pride, audacity, courage and enthusiasm.
- The red orchid expresses, in an intense way, the desire for physical contact and intimacy.
- The blue orchid can be used for anyone who wants to send a message of peace. Its meaning can be traced back to calm and tranquility.
The orchid is a very popular flower among brides. It is chosen to celebrate a wedding: in particular, the white orchid is chosen to underline the purity of the complicit love of the union. Once, the white orchid was only granted to the bride who arrives unscathed at the altar.
If the orchids in question are of two colors, the flower will contain the combined meaning of that indicated by the different colors. For example, a white orchid flecked with red symbolizes lasting love, respect and reverence but, at the same time, it expresses a desire for intimacy. If the flower is white and yellow, it will convey a meaning of intense, pure, sincere love and strong complicity.
