Gladiolus impress with their upright, sword-shaped growth and beautiful flowers. Like many other flowers, the gladiolus has a special meaning that we would like to go into in more detail here.
What is the meaning of the gladiolus?
The meaning of the gladiolus ranges from symbolic warrior courage and victory, reminiscent of the Roman short sword Gladius, to tokens of love and admiration of the beloved in the past. Even today, gladioli are beautiful cut flowers that express admiration.
The Latin plant name
The Roman short sword was called a gladius, the smaller form of the weapon was called a gladiolus. The upright growth of the gladiolus and its pointed petals are reminiscent of these dangerous weapons and gave the gladiolus its heroic name. The gladiolus was a symbol of strength and victory. In ancient Rome, the heroes of the arena were therefore pelted with gladiolus flowers by the audience.
The Siegwurz
Magical powers were also attributed to the gladiolus bulb in earlier times. The soldiers wore the tuber, known as Siegwurz in the Alemannic region, around their necks as a talisman. They believed that the onion would make them invulnerable and invincible. This myth comes from the appearance of the onion, which is surrounded by a fine, fibrous covering with the appearance of an armor.
The gladiolus as a token of love
In earlier centuries it was extremely inappropriate to spontaneously declare your love for a lady. Then as now, gentlemen let flowers do the talking to express their feelings. Along with the rose, the gladiolus was a great token of love. If the adored gladioli were received, it was less about expressing a love of life and death. Rather, the flower should symbolically reveal admiration for a person and the pride in knowing and honoring them.
Tip
Since gladioli last a long time in a vase, they are ideal as cut flowers. Even today, the attractive flower swords speak their own language that hardly any lady can escape.
