What Does Lily Of The Valley Symbolize?

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is a highly fragrant perennial plant that typically blooms in late spring. With its delicate bell-shaped flowers and lush green foliage, the lily of the valley has long held deep symbolic meanings across various cultures.

The lily of the valley has a wide range of symbolic associations due to its sweet scent and seasonal bloom during springtime. Some of the common symbolic meanings include purity, humility, rebirth, happiness, trust, and the return of happier times after hardships.

Purity and Innocence

The lily of the valley flower has long been associated with purity and innocence. In the Victorian era, the flower was given as a gift to convey the innocence of a child or youth. In part, this meaning comes from the white bell-shaped flowers, which evoke images of purity and virginity (Country Living). In Christian tradition, the lily of the valley symbolized the purity and humility of the Virgin Mary. In the language of flowers, the lily of the valley represents sweetness, humility, and a return to happiness.

The lily of the valley is strongly tied to the image of youthful innocence and virtue. The flowers bloom in spring, representing new beginnings, while the white color signifies purity. In medieval legends, the lily of the valley was associated with St. Leonard, the patron saint of prisoners, who used the flower to silence the wicked tongues of slanderous women. Thus, the lily became connected with modesty and reticence in speech (House Beautiful). Its delicate appearance came to embody both the innocence of youth and the virtues of humility, sincerity and modesty.

Humility

The drooping, bell-shaped flowers of the lily of the valley signify the virtue of humility. The way the flowers bow their heads is symbolic of Mary’s humility and her submission to God’s will. In Christianity, the lily of the valley represents the Second Coming of Christ when peace and happiness will reign again. It is sometimes called “Mary’s tears” and its nodding, bell-shaped flowers represent Mary’s humility and inner beauty.

In Christianity, particularly Catholicism, lily of the valley is associated with Mary’s humility and chastity. The way the flower bells hang down is thought to symbolize Mary’s tears and sorrows as well as her great humility and devotion to God. The return of the lily of the valley in springtime is said to represent the Second Coming of Christ.

Happiness

The lily of the valley symbolizes happiness and joy. In the Victorian era, it became tradition for brides to carry lily of the valley in their bridal bouquets. The lily’s bell-shaped white flowers represented the bride’s happiness and delight on her wedding day (Country Living). During this time, the lily of the valley commonly went by the name “Our Lady’s tears,” referencing the Virgin Mary’s joy and tears at the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lily’s sweet floral scent evokes sweetness and pleasure.

Rebirth

Lily of the valley blooms in springtime, making it a natural symbol of rebirth and renewal. The tiny bell-shaped white blooms emerge right around the spring equinox, representing the rebirth of the light during this season. Since ancient times, cultures around the world have viewed the spring season as a time of renewal and new beginnings. The lily of the valley’s association with spring reflects these universal themes of rebirth and starting anew (Source).

In the language of flowers, lily of the valley symbolizes the return of happiness and more positive times. After the metaphorical “death” of winter, the lily rises again to signal brighter days ahead. Its pure white color reinforces this symbolism of fresh starts and cleansing renewal. For many people, the sight of lilies of the valley emerging in spring represents the world being reborn and getting a second chance.

Trust

Lily of the valley is often given as a gift to convey trust. This symbolic meaning comes from the Victorian era, when it was popular to use flowers to send coded messages. Giving lily of the valley flowers conveyed the message “You’ve made my life complete” and “Let’s make up.”

According to Wikihow, lily of the valley represented the renewal of happier times. Receiving the flowers expressed that trust had been restored in the relationship and a promise of devotion.

Lily of the valley therefore became associated with trust, happiness, and the return of good times. The delicate bell-shaped flowers and sweet fragrance represented an innocent, pure and sincere heart. Giving lily of the valley signified conveying trust in another person and starting fresh in a relationship.

Return of Happier Times

The lily of the valley flower is strongly associated with the return of happier times, signifying better days ahead after difficulties or a period of mourning. According to Flower Power Daily, in the Victorian language of flowers, the lily of the valley represents “return to happiness.” It evokes the coming of spring after a long winter, bringing renewed joy, cheerfulness and optimism.

Similarly, the Garden of Eden Flower Shop notes that the lily of the valley flower means “return to happiness” in happy memories or coming to terms after mourning a loss. The delicate white bells represent brighter and better times ahead after a period of darkness or sadness. So this bloom is frequently associated with moving forward into more positive times.

Danger and Death

Though beautiful, the lily of the valley is poisonous and has been associated with danger and death, especially in literature. The plant contains cardiac glycosides, which can cause irregular heartbeats, hallucinations, and even death if ingested (Source).

In literature, lily of the valley has been used to foreshadow harm or death. For example, in Agatha Christie’s murder mystery novel Sad Cypress, the presence of lily of the valley plants foreshadows a murder by poisoning. Shakespeare also references lily of the valley in Hamlet when Ophelia goes mad and commits suicide – symbolizing the loss of her innocence and descent into grief and death (Source).

So while lily of the valley blooms represent purity and rebirth, their toxic nature has also imbued them with symbolic meanings of danger, grief, madness, and death in literature and mythology.

Christian Symbolism

The lily of the valley has been associated with Christianity and the Virgin Mary. The flower’s white color and delicate form reminiscent of a bell represent Mary’s purity and humility [1]. In medieval Christianity, the lily of the valley symbolized Mary’s second tears, which were shed at the cross of Jesus. This refers to the seven sorrows of Mary – the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, losing the child Jesus in the Temple, meeting Jesus as he carried the cross, the crucifixion, taking down the body of Jesus from the cross, and the burial of Christ. The lily of the valley came to represent her second sorrow, the flight into Egypt [2].

Conclusion

The lily of the valley flower has held significance across cultures and religions for centuries as a symbol of purity, innocence, humility, happiness, rebirth, and trust. Along with representing the return of happier times in the spring, it has darker connotations of danger and death. In Christianity, the lily of the valley symbolizes the Second Coming of Christ and conveys spiritual devotion. Its evolving meanings over time show the multifaceted ways humans have interpreted this beloved flower.

While the details vary, the lily of the valley universally represents purity due to its white color and delicate appearance. The nine bell-shaped flowers hanging together from a single stem evoke humility and return to innocence. As one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, it signals rebirth and the restoration of happiness. The sweet fragrance and joyous arrival convey trust in the goodness of nature. While mostly positive, legends and folklore associate the flower with sorrow and death too. However, even these connections emphasize the deep symbolic significance of the modest lily of the valley.