SUNFLOWER: MEANING OF THE FLOWER SYMBOL OF HAPPINESS AND ETERNAL LOVE

It fascinates us in the summer fields, enchants us in Van Gogh's paintings and just seeing it gives us joy: the sunflower is one of the most popular flowers thanks to the unmistakable yellow color of its petals in contrast with the brown of the inflorescence and the green of the its long stem and the particular shape of the corolla. The technical name of the sunflower is Helianthus, a Greek word composed of "helios", or" sun ", and"anthos"which means" flower. "This floral variety is very successful also for the rich symbolism that has been built over the years and for this reason today we will discover the meaning of the sunflower according to the language of flowers.

The myth about the origin of the sunflower

The sunflower is a flower known and appreciated by different cultures, both Eastern and Western. The most famous myth about its origin, however, derives from ancient Greece and has as protagonists the god Apollo, also known to be the god of the sun, and the nymph Clizia. Legend has it that the latter fell madly in love with son of Zeus and the goddess Leto, so much so that he remained motionless for hours watching him as he carried the sun along the celestial vault with his chariot. Apollo, flattered by Clizia's love for him, succumbed to passion, but then abandoned it. However, the nymph remained faithful to him and continued to follow the god with her eyes in his daily task.

Thus, according to the myth and the most accredited version of the Metamorphosis of Ovid, Clizia's legs were transformed into roots and her body took the shape of a sunflower, a flower whose flower head follows the movement of the sun throughout the day just as the eyes of the nymph would have done. actually, it is called "heliotropism".

Sunflower symbolism

According to the language of flowers, the sunflower would have more than one meaning because over the years it has become an emblem of different concepts, also depending on the cultures and traditions with which it came into contact. Let's see its rich symbolism below.

Cheerfulness, vivacity and optimism: these are probably the best known meanings. Thanks to its bright yellow color and its wide, open shape, the sunflower immediately conveys a feeling of joy and happiness. Already according to the theory of colors, yellow is the color par excellence of positivity and vital energy and all this is confirmed in the floral species of the sunflower. Therefore, giving one or a bouquet to a person means recognizing sunshine and cheerfulness in them or wanting to bring them as a gift during a moment of difficulty.
Perseverance but also obsession in love: the sunflower is a symbol of fidelity in love thanks, above all, to the myth of Clizia and Apollo. As we have seen, the nymph remains steadfast in her love for the god so much that she transforms into a flower. This dedication, however, has also been read as an obsession and a love fixation.
New life: every morning the sunflower blooms and then closes again as evening falls. This behavior dictated by "heliotropism" led him to be considered as the emblem of a new beginning. Furthermore, it is seen as the "light-bearer" flower and thus can symbolize the birth of a new life.
Longevity: for oriental cultures, especially Chinese, the sunflower indicates longevity and immortality. In fact, compared to other flowers, once picked, it resists several days before drying up.

The sunflower in art

Such a particular flower could not fail to have a role of the first order in the world of art, both in the figurative one and in the field of poetry and literature. Certainly the most famous examples are those of Van Gogh and Klimt, who chose sunflowers as the protagonists of many of their works. Of the first, we remember the series of 11 paintings depicting sunflowers, mostly in pots. Van Gogh wished to convey in this way not only his ideal of love through the image of the sunflower, understood as "the exploding vitality", but also the "love and admiration he felt for Nature itself. Klimt, on the other hand, he invested the sunflower with a sensual charge that brought him numerous criticisms, in fact in his two paintings he associated the figure of the flower with the female body, going to reinterpret in a personal way the Greek myth about the origin of Helianthus.

As mentioned, sunflowers are also often mentioned in the literature. The most famous case as regards the Italian repertoire is that of Eugenio Montale. In opera Bring me the sunflower for me to transplant it, the hermetic poet first invokes the flower with a pale yellow humanized "face" but, proceeding in the rhymes, it lights up with vitality, becomes "crazy with light" until it turns, in closing, towards the blue sky in search of infinity.

When to give sunflowers

Knowing the meaning of flowers is very useful when you want to give someone and you are undecided about which variety to choose. In the case of sunflowers, there are several occasions when they can prove to be the right choice. For example, many give a bouquet of Helianthus to particularly cheerful, lively and sunny people, to emphasize this aspect of their character. Others, on the other hand, opt for the sunflower as a gift for a loved one, as a symbol of fidelity and dedication in love. In both these situations, sunflowers are suitable for bouquets delivered on the occasion of a birthday, an anniversary or for the celebration of an important milestone.

Moreover, given the joy that this flower conveys at first sight, it is perfect as a gift to someone who is in a particular period of difficulty and loneliness. Bringing the "flower that follows the light" can certainly revive an environment, but certainly also the people who live there.

Finally, a bouquet of sunflowers can be a great idea for a new mother, thanks to its meaning of new beginning and new life.