Let’s dive in and explore all that May Birth Month Flowers have in store. Check the unique qualities that make them perfect for May babies.
Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn are two May Birth Month Flowers; find what they mean for May borns and the history of these pretty blooms in the below post.
What Are the May Birth Month Flowers?
May is the month of spring, beauty, and renewal. It’s the time of year when the world is in full bloom, and the air is filled with sweet fragrances. If you are the lucky one who is born in this month, then find the May birth month flowers with meanings for your special day;
Lily-of-the-valley is a delicate, perennial groundcover that can rapidly spread under favorable conditions. The small, bell-shaped white flowers of this plant signify sweetness and purity, making it a popular choice for weddings and other special occasions.
Hawthorns, on the other hand, are shrubs that belong to the rose family. The flowers appear in May in small clusters of white, red, or pink. Following the flowers, small berries known as “haws” emerge. The Hawthorn plant has long been recognized as a symbol of hope, serving as a source of inspiration for poets and artists alike.
Check April Birth Month Flowers with Meanings
Best May Birth Month Flowers
Lily of the Valley
This May birth month flower is also famous as the May lily, Our Lady’s Tears, and May bells; lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), despite its name, is not a true lily. It belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is originally from Eurasia. This plant has been introduced to North America and has become naturalized there. Lily of the Valley is often grown in gardens for its elegant leaves and beautiful flowers.
The flowers of the lily-of-the-valley are white, bell-shaped, and hang downwards. They have a sweet and potent fragrance. While the plant typically produces white flowers, it can occasionally have pink or purple blossoms as well.
Meaning and Symbolism of Lily of the Valley
- This May birth flower symbolizes sweetness, humility, and purity.
- Its delicate white bells and subtle fragrance represent the sweetness of spring. The hanging heads reflect the humble and pure nature of this flower.
- In the language of flowers, people often associate the Lily of the Valley with the message “You make my life complete” and give it as a gift to express their appreciation, love, and gratitude.
- The scientific name of the Lily of the Valley is Convallaria majalis, which refers to its blooming season in May. This symbolizes the return of happiness and hopes for a prosperous spring following a long winter.
- As it blooms every year in May, the Lily of the Valley is an ideal flower to symbolize May month birthdays.
- In spiritual terms, this May month birth flower denotes motherhood, virtue, and humility.
- Lily-of-the-valley is a favored option for wedding bouquets due to its delightful aroma. In Holland, it is customary for newlyweds to plant these flowers in their garden, believing that it will bring good fortune to their marriage. Princess Diana and Kate Middleton also included these flowers in their bridal bouquets.
- The Lily of the Valley would delight in the nightingale’s song, but it would wither and die when the nightingale flew away. When the nightingale returned in May, the Lily of the Valley would bloom again in appreciation. The association of the nightingale’s return with the blooming of the Lily of the Valley is why the flower is considered a symbol of the return of happiness.
Lily of the Valley in History
- For the pious, the Lily of the Valley was closely linked to the Virgin Mary, and they saw its beautiful, tear-drop-like flowers as representing the tears she shed during the crucifixion of Jesus. They considered the blooming of these delicate flowers as a sign of connection to Mary, who they believed was the mother of all living things.
- Since the early 1500s, people have given Lily of the Valley as a gift to bring good luck and prosperity. It is also known as May’s belles or “Muguet des Bois” in French.
- When someone presented a beautiful Lily of the Valley to King Charles IX on May Day, he liked the flower so much that the tradition of gifting Lily of the Valley on May Day spread and continues to be upheld today.
- In Serbia, Lily of the Valley is picked for good luck on Saint George’s Feast Day, which is celebrated on the saint’s death anniversary. Additionally, the prosperous Lily of the Valley is the national flower of Finland.
- Apollo is believed to have sprinkled Lily of the Valley on the forest bed at Mount Parnassus. So that his darling muses wouldn’t injure their feet as they walked through the forest’s passages.
Do This in the Garden in March
Hawthorn
Hawthorn belongs to the genus Crataegus in the Rosaceae family, which also includes apples, cherries, and pears. Its name derives from the Greek words kratos, meaning ‘strength,’ and akis, meaning ‘sharp,’ referring to the thorns. The Old English word hagathorn gave rise to the term ‘Hawthorn,’ which means ‘hedge.’ whereas ‘haga’ means ‘hedge.’
Hawthorns are small, dense trees or shrubs that can reach heights of up to 30 feet. It has hundreds of species and grows in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Meaning and Symbolism of Hawthorn
This May Birth Month Flower symbolizes hope, fertility, and abundance. Its delicate, white, and pink flowers relate to the arrival of spring. People believe that its thorns protect it from harm.
- The ancient Greeks used the branches of hawthorns in wedding processions.
- In Celtic lore, people believed that hawthorns had the power to heal a broken heart.
- Serbian tradition held that stakes made from hawthorns could slay vampires.
Hawthorn in History
The May Birth Month Flower has a rich history that dates back to ancient times. In Celtic mythology, people associated Hawthorn with the goddess Olwen, who was the daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden. Olwen would appear in a forest of Hawthorn trees and lead those who followed her to the castle of her father.
In ancient Rome, people associated Hawthorn with the goddess Flora, the goddess of flowers and the arrival of spring. They often used Hawthorn in religious ceremonies and believed that it had the power to protect against evil spirits.
In medieval times, Hawthorn was related to May Day celebrations.