When you suppose again to your childhood, you could bear in mind becoming a member of arms with your mates, twirling in a circle, and singing “pockets filled with posies.” However did you ever query what a posy is? When you’re undecided what this time period refers to, you’re not alone. Many individuals marvel if a posy is a sort of flower, a bouquet of flowers, or one thing absent from flora completely. On this information, I’m going to clear up the confusion surrounding posies and supply some important details about posies flower that means, their historical past and origins, and cultural significance all over the world.
What Precisely Is a Posy?
A posy is a small bouquet or bunch of flowers and herbs. They are often made up of any kind of flower, together with a single selection or a mix. You may additionally hear folks check with posies as nosegays or tussie-mussies.
For the needs of this text, we’re going to be increasing on the definition of posy I listed above. Nevertheless, the time period posy also can check with the phrases inscribed on the within of a hoop.
The Historical past and Origins of Posies
The story of the posy begins someday in the midst of the second millennium. Throughout this time, primary sanitation was arduous to come back by, however folks within the higher courses have been nonetheless involved about their appearances (and masking themselves from the distasteful world round them).
Ladies took all types of measures to masks the scent of physique odor and sewage, together with small bundles of herbs and flowers that have been known as posies. At first, ladies pinned the posies to their clothes or carried them of their arms. However as time glided by, they started to tuck them inside specifically designed ornamental holders constructed from metallic.
You may nonetheless discover posy holders on the market in vintage shops and on show at museums.
When sanitation and the smells of the streets improved, folks decreased their reliance on posies as air fresheners. Nevertheless, the posies’ recognition remained.
Throughout Victorian occasions, ladies continued to hold round posies as style equipment. Ladies generally used the small bouquets solely as decorations, and different occasions they used them to ship particular meanings primarily based on the language of flowers.
As time progressed, the posy waned in recognition. Nevertheless, folks continued utilizing these small bouquets to ship needs and good ideas to family members.
The That means and Symbolism of Posies
Through the Victorian occasions, folks typically gave posies to associates, members of the family, lovers, and even enemies. These small bouquets typically symbolized optimistic emotions like love, friendship, and pleasure. Nevertheless, the precise that means of a posy relied on what flowers it included.
To find out the that means of a posy, folks turned to the language of flowers. This distinctive language gave particular that means to particular person flowers and allowed folks to ship messages with flowers moderately than phrases.
The language of flowers is a complete different matter, however we’ll embody some examples of this language to get you began.
Let’s say you wished to let a crush know you have been romantically concerned about them. You’d wish to decide flowers that symbolize romance moderately than friendship, however you in all probability wouldn’t wish to select flowers linked to passionate or eternal love. One possibility is to create a posy from pink roses, which relate to happiness, and gardenias, which ship the message of secret love.
However what should you’re not in love with somebody? What if you wish to let a good friend know you’re considering of them as they strategy a difficult time?
In that case, you may mix ivy, goldenrod, and pansy. This posy would symbolize friendship, good needs, and thoughtfulness.
It could be nice if we solely wished to ship good emotions to folks, however generally we have to let others know they’ve damage our emotions or brought on us ache. Whereas flowers might not seem to be the best way to do that, Victorians understood that sure flowers symbolized emotions like mistrust and hazard.
For instance, a tansy can symbolize hostility and even be used to declare struggle. And lavender is linked to mistrust, and geraniums symbolize stupidity.
Fashionable That means of Posies
Some persons are nonetheless aware of the language of flowers however don’t count on the typical particular person to know what a bouquet of yellow roses and pink geraniums means. Since this language isn’t as related because it was through the Victorian ages, posies maintain completely different meanings at this time.
Most occasions, posies are a option to let folks know that you’re considering of them and sending them good needs. Meaning they’re acceptable for all kinds of events.
Since they’re small preparations, they’re nice for events when huge bouquets might look misplaced.
Ring a Ring o’ Roses
One of the vital well-known references to posies happens within the youngsters’s nursery rhyme Ring a Ring o’ Roses, also called Ring Across the Rosie.
This music proclaims:
“Ring a hoop o’ roses,
Pocket filled with posies,
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
All of us fall down.”
Whereas there are some variations on this rhyme, historians and students imagine that each one variations check with a plague. Some folks suppose it refers back to the Nice Plague that struck London in 1665.
That may make sense because the roses check with crimson rashes and tissues to sneezing and sniffles. And a few folks say that folks wore posies throughout this time in an try to maintain illness away.
Appropriate Gifting Events for Posies
Posies will be given for all types of events.
These small bundles of flowers are good for events whenever you wish to let somebody know you care with out overwhelming them. Going over to a good friend’s home for dinner? Convey a posy! Wish to want a good friend good luck on an upcoming examination or job interview? Ship a posy their approach!
Posies can be nice choices should you don’t know somebody very effectively. For instance, they are often a superb option to say thanks to your youngster’s new instructor or welcome a brand new neighbor to the world.
Posies are additionally acceptable for events like new houses, birthdays, and graduations. Nevertheless, since they’re so small, they will not be the best choice if somebody expects an enormous present.
Find out how to Make a Posy at Dwelling
You don’t must be an skilled floral designer to make a posy. With some lovely beginning supplies and a bit of information, you’ll be able to make a posy at dwelling.
1. Collect Your Supplies
Step one in making a posy is accumulating all the mandatory supplies. That features flowers, greenery, herbs of your selecting, a pair of pruning shears, and a little bit of string.
You can begin with any flowers and vegetation you’d like, however recent supplies are finest. When you’re slicing vegetation out of your backyard, harvesting them within the early morning or late night is finest. Place the minimize supplies right into a jar of chilly water till you’re able to make your posy.
A pair of pruning shears will let you rapidly and precisely minimize plant stems. This can make your work simpler, and clear cuts will assist the flowers last more.
You’ll use string to tie up the posy as soon as it’s full, however the kind of string doesn’t matter. You may also use a rubber band rather than a string.
2. Prepare Your Flowers and Greens
Now for the enjoyable half!
Seize a number of stems of flowers, an herb or two, and a few greenery, and prepare them till you’re pleased with the consequence. There are not any arduous and quick guidelines in terms of making posies; you may embody 5 differing kinds and colours of flowers or depend on just one flower and a few greenery.
Nevertheless, do not forget that posies are small flower preparations. Meaning you must stick to about 5–10 stems.
You could solely want a number of stems should you’re utilizing bigger flowers like sunflowers and roses. However posies constructed from small flowers like chamomile and celosia can include a handful of stems.
3. Tie the Posy
When you’re pleased with the association of the flowers, maintain them collectively and tie the stems with a string. Alternatively, you may wrap a rubber band across the stems.
Subsequent, use the pair of pruning shears to chop the ends of the stems.
Place the ends of the stems in water and place the posy someplace cool out of direct mild. When you plan to put on the posy in your clothes, maintain it in water till you’re able to put on it.
My Favourite Forms of Flowers to Embody in a Posy
In my expertise, one of the best sorts of flowers to incorporate in a posy have sturdy stems, fragrant fragrances, and provide a mixture of sizes and colours. Listed here are a few of my favourite flowers for posies:
- Roses: These timeless flowers are in style for each their magnificence and scent.
- Chamomile: These delicate flowers resemble mini daisies and are sometimes related to calmness and rest.
- Daisies: Their cheerful blooms match effectively into most posy floral mixtures.
- Lavender: Its lengthy stems with tiny purple flowers provide a relaxing scent and a splash of shade.
- Celosia: Accessible in varied kinds, their distinctive texture and vibrant colours can add a dramatic contact to the posy.
- Child’s Breath: These tiny white flowers add a dreamy, ethereal contact.
- Freesias: Aromatic and delicate, they provide a wide range of colours.
- Candy Peas: Their ruffled blooms and nice scent are ever-charming.
- Lily of the Valley: Delicate bell-shaped flowers with a candy perfume.
- Tulips: Their construction and array of colours make them a flexible selection for posies.
- Violets: Whimsical and colourful, good for including a contact of appeal to your posy.
- Gerbera Daisies: Their vibrant and enormous blooms can function the posy’s centerpiece.
- Ranunculus: Gorgeous multi-layered petals add depth to any posy bouquet.
- Overlook-Me-Nots: Tiny blue flowers symbolizing remembrance.
- Camellias: Their shiny leaves and daring blooms exude sophistication.
- Asters: Daisy-like and obtainable in a spectrum of colours.
- Alstroemeria: Identified for his or her long-lasting, striped or speckled petals are good for a posy. .
Posies Flower That means – Wrapping Up
The time period posy refers to a small bouquet of flowers. It may be made up of any kind of flowers, in addition to herbs and greens. Posies have a storied historical past, wealthy in that means and symbolism, and are nonetheless culturally related at this time.
Individuals residing in Victorian occasions typically used posies to ship messages primarily based on the language of flowers. In trendy occasions, folks typically give posies as small presents.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State College. She manages a small market backyard the place she grows greens and herbs. She additionally enjoys rising flowers and houseplants at dwelling.
