Flower of the Week: PEONY

 FLOWER OF THE WEEK: Peony

Before sharing fun facts about the peony, the flower I chose as my Flower Of The Week, I'll share some quick research about flowers that are associated with November.

• November's floral theme is: warmth, happiness, friendship, gratitude, and enduring love.

🌼 November Birth Flowers
There are two traditional November birth flowers: Chrysanthemums and Peonies.

(1) Chrysanthemum
Primary November birth flower
- Meaning: Joy, happiness, longevity, friendship, and loyalty.
- Symbolism: Optimism, love, and well-being.
- Colors: Yellow, white, red, pink, purple, and orange.

(2) Peony
Sometimes included in November birth-flower traditions
- Meaning: Prosperity, romance, honor, and good fortune.
- Symbolism: Beauty, abundance, and a happy life.
- Colors: Pink, white, red, coral, and purple.

Other flowers associated with November include:
- Camellia (Admiration, affection, and devotion)
- Marigold (Warmth, creativity, and passion)
- Anemone (Anticipation, protection, and sincerity)
- Violet (Faithfulness, modesty, and loyalty)

WHY I CHOSE THE PEONY?

I chose the Peony as my flower of the week because of three (3) Korean dramas.

Number 1: In“The King in Love” (2017) (also known as “The King Loves”), the peony was the favorite flower of Crown Prince Wang Won's mother, Princess Wonseong (the queen). The peony becomes a symbol of love, beauty, attachment, and heartbreak in the story.

Number 2: In“Our Blooming Youth”, the peony was a deadly flower. Specifically, the peony petals were used as part of a sinister scheme against the Crown Prince. The flowers weren't the poison. The dried peony petals were burned as incense and used to:

- Drug people and alter their mental state.

- Induce hypnotic-like suggestions and false memories.

- Make victims' hair turn white.

Fortunately, the storyline was fiction and not fact. There is no established scientific evidence that peonies have those effects. YAY!!

The FACTS about the peony are:

• Dried peony petals are not generally considered a poison. Peonies (Paeonia species) have a history of use in traditional herbal medicine in East Asian culture. The idea of taking a medicinal herb associated with both healing and protection and turning it into something deadly was an “artistic twist”.

Number 3: In “Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency”, each episode was named after a flower and served as a floral metaphor for romance. The title of Episode 4 was “Shyness: Peony”. One could interpret that the peony symbolized shyness, bashfulness, and budding romantic feelings between two of the main characters. They were both shy about expressing their affection. In Joseon culture, “flowers” refer to young women of marriageable age, and the “Flower Crew” were a group of young men who arranged marriages. One of their clients, a bride, owed them money for arranging her wedding. They hired her to work with them to pay the debt. She and one of the crew members fell in love.

Peonies Bloom in Various Colors:

- Pink (Romance, affection, and happiness)

- White (Purity, innocence, and new beginnings)

- Red (Passion, prosperity, and honor)

- Coral (Warmth, charm, and good fortune)

- Yellow (Joy, friendship, and optimism)

- Purple (Mystery, elegance, and admiration) 

FINAL NOTE: In Korean and Chinese culture, peonies are especially associated with wealth, honor, prosperity, and feminine beauty. They are sometimes called the king of flowers because of their magnificent, full blossoms. Traditional East Asian paintings often feature pink or red peonies as symbols of prosperity and good fortune. 🌺

I often share my love of flowers in the Read.Cash community.  Previous FLOWER OF THE WEEK Posts:

 ~ Harlequin Glorybower

 ~ Forget-Me-Nots

 ~ Fringed Mariposa Lily

Where to find content sharing my K-drama love?  Click here.