In lieu of the Easter, there’s certainly a great demand for flowers especially calla lily. These elegant blooms with ivory white petals and lush green leaves have been sought after for centuries. Have you ever wondered why calla lilies became the symbolic flower for easter? Well, there must be something more to calla lilies’ significance than just their stunning appearance. Let’s find it out here.

The roots and family of calla lily

Calla lily comes from the Greek word for beauty. It is also known as the easter lily, the pig lily, trumpet lily, arum and the lily of the Nile. If you haven’t seen a calla lily yet, it has a pure white spathe, which is the petal-like cup of the flower, and a yellow spadix, which is the stem at the center of what is actually an inflorescence of many flowers. Although calla lilies are commonly white, they actually come in various colors such as pink, yellow, green, orange, purple and black. They grow along streams and rivers in warmer climates and begin to blossom in late spring. Calla lilies have remarkable strength. In fact, they can continue to grow in water and even survive frost.

The truth is, the calla lily is not a real lily. It is part of the Araceae family and is native to South Africa. Calla lily was first cataloged in the mid-1700s. The name “Calla Lily” was created due to a mistake committed by Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist while naming the species. Karl Koch, a German botanist, later corrected the error and established the genus Zantedeschia, but the name could not be changed anymore, thus the calla lily remained up to the present.

Its meaning and symbolism

During the 19th century, also known as the Victorian period, a language boomed where certain flowers were associated with expressing certain feelings. Flowers got meanings, and the way of expressing feelings was to send particular flowers. The meaning of the message was then deciphered through the blossoms chosen and the way they were arranged.
As calla lily blossoms in spring, they have become symbols of youth and rebirth and have been associated with faith, purity and holiness.

At Christian easter service, it played a role as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection. It has also been depicted with the Virgin Mary or the Angel of Annunciation in various paintings and artworks throughout history.

Calla lily’s other associated traditions

Through the years, the exquisite beauty of calla lilies has been mostly used in occasions that involve rebirths, major transitions, and new beginnings. White calla lilies are often spotted at weddings and they specifically mark the sixth wedding anniversary. That is because they are the traditional symbols of divinity, true devotion, and marital bliss. However, calla lilies are also used at funerals to symbolize sympathy and the purification of a departed soul.

While white calla lilies are associated with purity and innocence, other colors have their own meaning as well. Pink calla lilies symbolize admiration and appreciation. Purple ones, aside from being associated with royalty, also signifies passion. Yellow calla lilies carry a lot of meanings, but they commonly denote gratitude. Lastly, but definitely not the least, black calla lily, more of a dark purple or maroon, is highly sought-after for their elegance and mystery.

Lovely Calla Lily Bouquets

Check out on this Calla Lilies mixed with lovely blooms to create stunning bouquets that could also be put inside vases and decorate your place for the holiday or give as a gift to the special people in your life.