The History Of Easter Lilies | Gardening

By AureliaM.Fleur
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On Easter you can decorate eggs, make gift baskets, eat delicious chocolate bunnies, do things with your local church of your choice, go to a wonderful family parade and the Easter Lily. The Easter lily symbolizes purity hope and life. Easter Lilies are mostly given with other Easter gifts.

Louis Houghton, who fought in World War 1, introduced the Bermuda lily (or Easter lily) to this country. At the end of the war, he carried a valise filled with these bulbs to Oregon's south coast, giving them to relatives and acquaintances for planting here.

The lily, from Ryukyu Islands of Japan, adapted well to the climate. By 1945, west coast growers producing the bulbs numbered over one thousand. In the commercial market, Easter lilies rank only behind poinsettias, mums, and azaleas as the largest potted plant in the United States, even though they are only sold two weeks out of the year.

These elegant white flowers are pictured and written about extensively in art, history, and mythology. A famous instance occurs in the Bible in the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus says," Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Lilies are often called the "White-Robed Apostles of Hope". Lilies were discovered in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ died on the cross. During the Easter season, churches line their altars and envelop their crosses with a multitude of Easter Lilies, to signify the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life.

Another concept associated with the pure white lily is that of womanhood. In some early paintings, the Angel Gabriel offers pure white lilies to the Virgin Mary, and this symbolizes that she will be the mother of Jesus. Other paintings show saints bringing vases of white lilies to Mary and the divine child. According to the legend, the flowers were formed when Eve cried repentant tears upon leaving Eden, and the tears became lilies. The point of this legend is that true repentance leads to beauty.

It's no wonder that the graceful white lily has become a symbol for the real meaning of Easter. Millions of churches and homes will feel the hope, joy, and new life which bouquets of the regal flowers can provide. No matter if you decide to buy Easter lilies as a gift or for personal enjoyment, they will provide the insurmountable joy of the Easter season. They are a living sign that it is a time for us to celebrate and rejoice. When you go out to buy chocolate bunnies, peeps, and jelly beans this year, add some Easter lilies to your list.

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Read more about the Easter Lily meaning, visit Aurelia's original article. Here's a quick link if you'd like to buy an Easter Gifts for those you care about on the holiday

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