Flowers are one of the best things that we can ever have in our lives as humans, they help us to create memorable and beautiful events and they also add a touch of beauty and class to our lives.
Flowers have been used to pass across messages with strong emotions and they also help to explain some of the hidden things that lie within the world as well as some things that we need to discover and know about ourselves.
Flowers make our gardens and home even more lively and they also help to add color, beauty, perfection, and a tone of brightness into our lives and they can also help us to decorate our environment in the best possible ways.
Flowers have been in our lives for thousands of years and they have had a whole lot of history, stories, and myths that surround their existence in the different cultures of the world.
Star of Bethlehem is a perennial plant that is scientifically known as the Ornithogalum umbellatum and it belongs to the Hyacinthaceae (also known as winter lily) family and it contains about 150 species of this plant known around the world.
The star of Bethlehem is native to South Africa and Europe and this plant belongs to genus Ornithogalum and this flower is a perfect flower for gardens and beds.
However, this flower is quite distinct in that it can be very invasive – it is a bulbaceous plant that can survive in well-drained soil and it does not need much maintenance for it to survive.
The star of Bethlehem is also known as Wonder flower, Arabian star flower, Florist nightmare, Dove’s dung, etc.
The genus name of this flower, which is also used as the common name of this flower in certain places, “Ornithogalum” flower has a Greek origin and it means “bird’s milk flower” derived from the Greek words “ornithos” and “gala” which means ‘bird’ and ‘milk’ respectively.
This flower can grow to a height of about 20 – 30 cm and they usually develop flowers that grow on thin slender stalks.
In this article, we will take you through some of the various meanings and symbolism of the star of Bethlehem flower, so you should read further to learn more about this flower.
What is the meaning of the Star of Bethlehem flower?
From the name of this flower, star of Bethlehem, it is of no doubt that this flower is of Christian origin and there must be something that lies behind such a beautiful name.
The star of Bethlehem is a flower that is filled with stories and histories and it was believed that the star which served as the guard of the Wise men to baby Jesus when they went to present him gift turned into this beautiful flower.
However, this is not what we are here to discuss as we will discuss this later in the text. In subsequent paragraphs, we will take you through some of the various meanings of the star of Bethlehem flower.
Sign of Purity
The white coloration of this flower makes it a very good symbol of purity. The white color of this flower makes it a very essential symbol of purity and it can be used to express the kind of person someone is and if you know someone who is very pure at heart and lovely, this is the perfect flower for them.
This flower can also be used on different occasions and ceremonies and it will be a perfect flower to use for wedding decorations and also for bouquet beautification.
Sign of Innocence
The star of Bethlehem flower is also a very beautiful flower that you can use to show your level of innocence in tough times.
You can use this flower to relay messages of your innocence to people that seem quite hard for you to convince.
This flower will relay your message well and it can as well be used to plead if you have offended someone or done something wrong.
Sign of Forgiveness
This beautiful flower can also be used to show forgiveness and mercy, as the case may be.
Probably you have kept someone away from you as a result of an incidence or something even more personal and you are now prepared to accept such an individual back into your life, the star of Bethlehem flower is the best to convey your message.
You can also use it as an expression of another chance that you are offering someone.
Sign of Hope
This flower has quite a nature that is very compelling and fascinating. The star of Bethlehem flower can be used as a symbol of hope and this is going to tell us that there are better days ahead of us, we need to hope for the best in life and we need to stay prepared at all times.
This flower holds a sign of great hope for what lies ahead of us and it can be a sign that we need to stay focused and must be diligent to see what lies ahead of us.
Sign of Honesty
Star of Bethlehem flower can also relate to our honest and kind nature. If you know someone who is very honest and kind, this flower is going to be a very good and excellent gift for them.
You can also use this flower to express how honest and sincere you are about something and also to clear the air about questionable things that are present in your life.
Botanical facts and Characteristics of the Star of Bethlehem flower
This flower is of great medicinal purpose. It helps with the treatment of cough, strengthens the heart and weakens the cardiac muscle, prevents infarction, and improves memory loss among others.
- Nutritionists say it is healthier than garlic – that is, its bulb.
It slows down blood vessel atherosclerosis, expands and lowers high blood pressure, improves appetite, gets rid of gastrointestinal disturbances, etc.
- The leaves can be used in diet and added as an addition to salads because of their garlic-like scent and taste.
- This flower grows in damp deciduous forests in the valleys, along the streams.
- This flower can grow to a height of about 20 – 30 cm.
What is the Color Meaning of the Star of Bethlehem flower?
Flowers are special things in our lives as humans and they are very essential to us, the color of these flowers makes them even more appreciative and awesome.
Colors are very important when it comes to flower symbolism and they can tell a whole lot about what this flower can mean and symbolize.
Although the white color is the characteristic color of the star of Bethlehem, they can also have other different colors – though not common. Below are the colors of this flower and their various meanings:
White:
Color white is a symbol of purity, innocence, and spirituality. This flower is a perfect flower which can be used as a perfect way to describe someone with any of the above-mentioned qualities and they are the best flower that will suit wedding arrangements and you can also add them to wedding bouquets. This flower speaks of innocence and hope and it is just perfect for any occasion.
Blue:
This flower is a great way to show people that you respect and trust them. The color blue is a symbol of trust, honesty, and respect and it can help you to centralize the various meanings of this flower.
This is an awesome flower for your home and garden and it is going to speak a lot about you.
Orange:
Color orange is the symbol of optimism, joy, and happiness. This flower, although not as common as the white-colored flowers, it is a perfect flower which will symbolize happiness and joy. This flower is perfect for anyone that you want them happy and joyous at all times.
Yellow:
This color is a symbol of positive energy, joy, and happiness. Most times, the color yellow is considered a symbol of friendship and this flower can be gifted to your friend to let them know how much you appreciate their presence in your life. This flower is perfect for just anyone that you love and care for without mincing words.
Purple:
Color purple is a symbol of royalty, beauty, and uniqueness. This is one of the most unique colors of this flower and anyone that you gift this flower to must know how special they are to you.
You should gift this flower to those that you respect and love as well as those that you respect for who they are to you.
What is the Symbolism of the Star of Bethlehem flower in different Cultures and History?
This flower has a whole lot of symbolism and meaning in different places around the world and the most significant and highly recognized of them all is that of Biblical reference.
The star of Bethlehem is believed to have been the star created by God to lead the wise men to baby Jesus so that they could present him gifts.
After this star finished its purpose on earth, God looked at how beautiful this flower was and did not want such a beauty to go in vain so he broke this flower and it was spread to different parts of the world which turned into the star of Bethlehem flower.
This story made this flower of great symbolism and meaning in Christianity and it was believed to have been used for important decorations in several religious ceremonies such as baptism, weddings, christening, and lots more.
As you can see, the name of this flower is tied to Bethlehem – the place where Jesus Christ was given birth at. Therefore, this flower became the symbol of everything that Jesus represents such as purity, spirituality, hope, innocence, everlasting life, and others.
Conclusion
This flower is passing across a message that we need to know who we really are and we must always stand for what we believe in no matter what it takes.
You should always take your chances and learn the characteristics of this flower, it can be of great help to you.
On behalf of the author, thank you so much for taking the time to read this article !