Iris Appreciation Day May 8


Iris Appreciation Day is on May 8 of each year.

In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and a messenger
for Zeus and Hera.  She carried messages from heaven to earth
and was a companion to female souls on their way to heaven.
It's said to this day Greeks plant purple iris on women's graves so 
Iris will guide them to their eternal resting place in heaven.  



The iris is the state flower of Tennessee.  It is the birth
flower for February and the 25th wedding anniversary flower. 

In many cultures the iris symbolizes wisdom, courage, hope, and faith. 
In the Language of Flowers the iris has been 
associated with majestic power and the three lower
petals represent faith, wisdom, and valor.  
In the Middle Ages some believed the three petals 
represented the three social orders: nobility, clergy, and peasants. 
A stylized iris is the fleur de lys and the emblem of France.
Fleur de lys means "flower of the lily" and until the 19th
century, the iris was referred to as a lily. 





The different colors of iris also have different meanings.
Purple iris symbolizes royalty and wisdom.
Yellow iris symbolizes passion.
Blue iris symbolizes faith and hope.
White iris symbolizes purity.


Iris info from ftd.com

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