Pink Orchid-An ancient symbol

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  • Author Mariska Corben
  • Published December 27, 2010
  • Word count 514

Growing and caring for orchids is actually an ancient custom. According to history people have been growing and harvesting different variants of orchids for hundreds of years already. Generally, there are over 35.000 different species of orchids that can grow in almost any climate all over the world. Because of its long history with humans and being spread all over the planet, orchids became a symbol to many different things based in different cultures.

Going back hundreds of years in history, in most cultures, the orchid appears as a symbol of beauty, royalty or love. In ancient Europe, orchids were even used as a main ingredient in love potions. Humans have been collecting, growing and harvesting by orchids for a very long time already. In ancient and modern Greece, orchids are associated with virility and fertility. As a matter of fact, in Greece, it is believed that if the father of an unborn child would eat the largest and newest orchid stems and roots, the child would be born male. On the other hand, if the mother would eat up small orchid stems and roots, she will give birth to a girl.

In Europe, during the Victorian era, orchids were considered to be a symbol of luxury and elegance, but not much of a symbol of fertility and virility, although the ancient beliefs still held strong in some places, the ancient beliefs are still very much influential. In the present generation, the pink orchid is commonly linked to the 14th wedding anniversary flower, which symbolizes love and affection.

How the orchid is shaped has always been very pleasing to people because of the symmetry of the flowers to its stems and leaves. There are even orchids which are named as butterfly orchid because of the shape it presents. This resulted to the orchid as being the symbol of perfection and beauty for hundreds of years now. And because orchids are grown by people for hundred of years already, it is no longer surprising to know that orchid symbols has religious connotation. Orchids are also known to represent many different things in Christian theology. But the most popular and commonly recognized symbol of orchids is their spot that represents the blood of Christ; this is according to the Christian theology. In relation to this, orchids are commonly seen in many Easter and even Christmas floral arrangements in many cultures. It can also be commonly found in many churches altars as decorations.

The Vanilla orchid is one of the most common variant of orchids. The history of this orchid goes all the way back to the Aztecs'. The natural habitat of the vanilla orchid is in the wild in the part of Mexico where the Aztecs lived. In Mexico, this orchid was recognized as a symbol of strength. Thus, the ancient Aztecs were said to drink a mixture of vanilla orchid flowers as a strength potion.

No matter what symbol an orchid may present, one thing is common. And that is, the beauty and elegance of the orchids which can capture the heart of any flower lover.

Mariska Corben has been growing orchids for more than 10 years. If you’d like to learn more on orchid lights, visit [http://www.perfectorchids.com/](http://www.perfectorchids.com/)

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