The January birth flower is the Carnation.The carnation, also called the ‘carn,’ has been cultivated for centuries for its ruffled blooms and favored for its fragrance and hardiness.
The scientific name Dianthus caryophyllus contains the Greek word ‘dianthus’ which means “flower of the gods,’ and the original pink blooms of the flower led to its common name which is said to mean ‘flesh toned.’
Others believe carnation gets its name from the word ‘coronation’ or the Greek word for ‘flower garlands’ which is ‘corone.’
Also called the Clove Pink or Gillyflower, this Eurasian plant has a spice scent and can be found in a variety of colors ranging from pink to purple-red and symbolize love, fascination and distinction. Other meanings attached to carnation colors are: passionate love (red), rejection or distain (yellow), innocence and steadfastness (white) and whimsical and capricious (purple).
Legend says, pink carnations appeared below the Virgin Mary’s tears as Jesus carried the cross and as a result, the pink variety symbolizes a mother’s love.
This connection between the carnation and Mary was immortalized in the 1475 painting “The Madonna with the Carnation” by Leonardo da Vinci. It is housed in Munich, Germany as part of a collection of famous works and is also called the “Munich Madonna.”
Carnations are considered an edible flower, and it’s petals are a popular choice for cake decorators. They have also been used in the making of the French liquor Chartreuse, to decorate ice cubes and to bring flavor to certain types of salads.
