Lily of the Valley: The Meaning of This Lucky Flower
Recognizable by its fresh scent and delicate, snow-white bells, lily of the valley is THE flower that heralds the official return of spring! Every May 1, we joyfully renew the tradition of giving a sprig of lily of the valley as a good-luck charm. The editorial team at Sessile.fr explores the meaning behind the adorable lily of the valley for you…
The Symbolism of Lily of the Valley in the Language of Flowers
A member of the Liliaceae family, the lily-of-the-valley flower blooms in temperate regions as delicate stems bearing clusters of fragrant bell-shaped blossoms. A symbol of the return of spring, its fragrance is recognizable for its fresh, green notes with a hint of jasmine.
In the language of flowers, lily of the valley symbolizes good luck, childlike joy, purity, innocence, humility, youth, and discretion.
Like many flowers, lily of the valley is steeped in legend. One legend tells that the tiny flowers were formed from Eve’s tears when she left the Garden of Eden—the flower is also mentioned several times in the Bible.
A symbol of rebirth, lily of the valley was already celebrated during the “Florales,” ancient festivals dedicated to Flora, the goddess of flowers. Offered as a sign of respect, it also served as a testament to their belief in her divine nature.
In Greek mythology, the god Apollo is said to have created lily of the valley to protect the delicate feet of his nine muses by covering the ground with these bell-shaped flowers.
I find my sprigs of lily of the valley
Lily of the valley, the lucky flower of May 1
In France, it is customaryto give lily of the valley on May 1, Labor Day, to wish good luck and happiness to loved ones. Legend even has it that a sprig of lily of the valley with 13 bells is twice as lucky!
What is less well known is that this tradition dates back to the Renaissance. More specifically, it was started by King Charles IX. In 1561, during a visit to the Drôme region, the monarch was presented with a sprig of lily of the valley. Charmed by this gesture, he decided the following year to give this same flower to the women of his court.
In the 15th century, May 1 was celebrated as a festival of love, symbolized by a tradition in which nobles would go into the forest to gather branches to decorate their homes. It was customary to make wreaths of foliage and flowers to wear or give to loved ones.
These ancient customs have endured through the ages and can still be found in some regions in the form ofthe May Tree. This tradition involves placing a felled tree in front of a house during the night of April 30 to May 1. Depending on the region, this tree is offered in honor of a member of the community or to unmarried young women.
The connection to the origins of Labor Day would take shape later, in the 19th century. Over time, this practice spread and became a true national tradition.
Giving a woman a lily of the valley—a tender gesture of love
As you can see, giving a sprig of lily of the valley to our loved ones for good luck is the most common way we use the lily of the valley.
Beyond its role as a good-luck charm, lily of the valley also serves as a messenger of the most tender declarations of love. This symbol of gentleness and delicacy is a way to express the admiration we feel for a woman in our lives.
Giving a sprig of lily of the valley to a mother or a pregnant woman is also a wonderful way to celebrate a mother’s love.
Sessile's take on the meaning of lily of the valley
As May 1 approaches, sprigs of lily of the valley are making a big comeback on the counters of independent florists—and at the front of the aisles in supermarkets! Every year, some 60 million sprigs are produced in the regions of Nantes, Bordeaux, and Ollioules in the Var department, after just four short weeks of blooming.
Unsurprisingly, prices vary depending on the quality of the lily of the valley: “extra,” “first grade,” or “second grade,” based on the size of the stem and the quality of the blooms. Thanks to their ability to buy in bulk, supermarkets can offer lily of the valley stems at unbeatable prices. As is often the case, it’s definitely at your local florist* that you’ll be able to find a top-quality sprig of lily of the valley, whose fragrance and durability will make all the difference!
*Legend has it that buying a sprig of lily of the valley from an artisan florist in the Sessile network brings threefold good luck…
Who are we?
Sessile champions the independence of artisan florists online. Founded in 2019 by six friends, Sessile brings together 500 florists committed to transforming the industry and enables flower delivery throughout France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. By breaking away from the traditional online catalog model, the network highlights each florist’s expertise and helps keep the art of floristry alive. Florists can pursue their passion and create more creative bouquets because they have greater freedom to offer seasonal flowers and, whenever possible, locally sourced flowers.
