Lily of the Valley Meaning: History and When to Give Them to Someone

All about this gorgeous and surprising member of the asparagus family

Co-authored by Savannah Vold

Last Updated: January 20, 2023 References

Meaning

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Spiritual & Biblical Symbolism

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History

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Mythology and Folklore

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Saftey Concerns

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When to Give Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley was first imported from Japan all the way back in the middle ages, and ever since, this fragrant, elegant flower has remained a popular choice in gardens and gift-giving. With hundreds of years worth of tradition and symbolism, this flower is simply blooming with meaning! In this article, we’ll tell you all about its rich history and what it means to give and receive them.

Things You Should Know

The Lily of the Valley is generally regarded to represent a return of happiness.
Lily of the Valley is also symbolic of motherhood, humility, and virtue due to its connection with the Virgin Mary.
Lily of the Valley is historically associated with May Day and is given as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Section 1 of 6:

Meaning

Lily of the Valley symbolizes a return to happiness. This gorgeous, fragrant flower steeped in history and symbolism is most widely acknowledged to represent feelings of joy and hopefulness. Its scientific name, Convallaria (Valley) majlis (belonging to Maia), refers to the flowering of Lily of the Valley in May, marking a return to happiness and hopefulness for a prosperous spring after a long winter.^{[1]
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- Lily of the Valley blooms yearly in May, making it the perfect flower to represent May birthdays.^{[2]
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- Lily of the Valley is sometimes associated with sadness and loss because of their presence in many funeral arrangements. Though, the use of the flower in times of hardship is meant to represent the hope that happiness will soon return to those affected by loss or hard times.

Section 2 of 6:

Spiritual & Biblical Symbolism

Lily of the Valley spiritually signifies motherhood, humility, and virtue. Closely associated with the Virgin Mary, the gorgeous, tear-drop-like blossoms of the Lily of the Valley represent the tears Mary cried at the crucifixion of Jesus. When these delicate flowers bloomed, the devout regarded them as a connection to Mary, the mother of all living things.^{[3]
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- Alternatively, in Christianity, Lily of the Valley is thought to have formed from Eve’s tears when she was cast out of Eden.^{[4]
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- In Germanic mythology, Lily of the Valley is associated with the purity and humility of the Norse goddess of spring and dawn, Ostara (where we get the word Easter).^{[5]
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Section 3 of 6:

History

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Lily of the Valley represents good luck and prosperity. Also known as May’s belles (“Muguet des Bois” in French), Lily of the Valley has been given as a gift of good luck and prosperity since the early 1500s. When King Charles IX was gifted a lovely Lily of the Valley on May Day, an ancient celebration of the beginning of summer every May 1st, he liked the flower so much that the tradition spread and continues to be upheld even today.^{[6]
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- Lily of the Valley is also picked in Serbia for good luck on Saint George’s Feast Day, celebrated on the saint’s death.^{[7]
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- The prosperous Lily of the Valley is also the national flower of Finland.^{[8]
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Lily of the Valley’s fabulous fragrance is a hit in perfume! Lily of the Valley has been adored for ages due to its amazing floral scent, so when Lily of the Valley became distilled in perfume, it was an instant hit. Edmond Roudnitska popularized the scent in fragrance when he created his iconic Diorissimo in 1956 as an homage to Christian Dior.^{[9]
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- Lily of the Valley was Christian Dior’s favorite flower and lucky charm that adorned his personal stationary, jacket lapels, and even inspired an entire collection in 1954.^{[10]
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Section 4 of 6:

Mythology and Folklore

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In Greek mythology, Apollo first grew the Lily of the Valley. Greek god of the sun Apollo is believed to have sprinkled Lily of the Valley on the forest bed at Mount Parnassus so his darling muses wouldn’t injure their feet as they walked through the forest’s passages. Walking on a bed of roses– more like lilies!^{[11]
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Lily of the Valley fell in love with the nightingale in Celtic folklore. The shy Lily of the Valley would relish in the nightingale’s song, but when the nightingale flew away, the Lily would wither and die. When the nightingale returned in May, the Lily of the Valley would bloom again in appreciation.^{[12]
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- The nightingale’s return to the Lily of the Valley is another reason the flower is associated with a return of happiness.

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Saftey Concerns

As harmless as it might seem, Lily of the Valley is poisonous. The flowers, fruit, and leaves contain cardiac glycosides that are dangerous if consumed or ingested by humans and animals and cause symptoms such as irregular heartbeats, vomiting, etc.^{[13]
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Section 6 of 6:

When to Give Lily of the Valley

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Send a Lily of the Valley as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. It doesn’t have to be May Day to send a fragrant Lily of the Valley as a token of affection for any occasion that might need some extra good luck!^{[14]
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- Whether it’s celebrating summer for May Day or sending Lily of the Valley as a symbol of good luck for your cousin’s job interview, this flower is a perfect choice.
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Give Lily of the Valley as an expression of sympathy. Symbolic of a return to happiness, Lily of the Valley is a touching gift to send to loved ones and peers in recognition of a challenging time or the death of a loved one.^{[15]
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- Lily of the Valley is a respectful and tasteful choice for funerals, illness, or any other struggle those you care about might be enduring that signals hope for brighter, happier times.
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Present or use Lily of the Valley at weddings or baby showers. A gorgeous symbol of virtue and humility, the white Lily of the Valley is a fabulous addition to any wedding gift and looks stunning in bridal bouquets!
- A representation of motherhood due to its connection to the Virgin Mary, Lily of the Valley is a thoughtful flower to send to new parents.^{[16]
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