- March 16, 2021
Introduction
Have you ever felt like flower crowns are only meant to be worn by flower girls and teens? If so, you are not alone.
For about a New York minute, I was under that impression, but then I opened Instagram and realized that many lovely people around the world embraced the flower crown confidently, AND they looked absolutely fabulous with it on – regardless of age.
My short-lived insecurity appeared before I fell head over heels for Frida Kahlo’s story, style, and work.
Frida, like many fashion icons, derived inspiration from nontraditional fashion eras for her time. She did so with such confidence that while a random passerby may have laughed at her for her fashion choices, others couldn’t help but admire her grace and beauty.
One of her many iconic trademarks was her love for wearing fresh flowers from her garden in her hair in such a way that they looked like a flower crown. Hence, many Frida enthusiasts adopt the flower crown when trying to appear in her likeness, or just as a fun everyday accessory.
Frida is just one iconic figure that popularized the flower crown, but the flower crown has long been embraced worldwide, for centuries, across different cultures and traditions.
Today, I wanted to cover just a few of them because I think it’s important to see how fashion is adapted & celebrated around the world, how it changes over time, and how it affects us today.
CONTENTS
References
This link opens to a new web page with a PDF copy of a list of resources used for this blog: Flower Crown Sources
*Please note that all the books in this slide, and links included throughout the blog marked with an asterisks (*) , direct you to affiliate links where I make a small commission if you place an order.
Four Lovely & Easy Flower Crown Hairstyles - 2 With Braids (Video)
She wore flowers in her hair and magic in her eyes.
Wearing a flower crown with an up-do is an art form.
They tend to be the belle of the ball given how impressive they are but pairing it with a fun, and easy up-do can be done.
In this video, I cover four lovely hairstyles you can easily accomplish with your flower crown.
If you try any of them, do share your creations in the Facebook Group!
Making A Simple Flower Crown With Paper And Foliage From My Garden (Video)
Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair...
Every girl should make and own their own flower crown. Agree?
Learning about the many variations of flower crowns and their meanings inspired me to create my own.
What do you think?
Have you made your own flower crown? If so, please share your work in the Facebook Group!
A Brief History Of The Flower Crown (Video)
I paint flowers so they will not die.
Ready to learn how to make your very own ribbon rosette AND review a brief history of the flower crown?
If so, you are going to adore the video above.
In it, I walk you through how I created a number of rosettes by using the book Creating Ribbon Flowers by Timothy Wright & Nicholas Kniel.
Cheers!
Beltane Flower Crown
Let’s begin with the flower crown used for Beltane.
Beltane is a pagan holiday that honors life, new beginnings, and fertility.
It represents the peak of spring and the beginning of summer, and flower crowns worn on this holiday reflect the beauty of the season’s changing.
As a result, flower crowns vary quite a lot from region to region as they’re made from blossoms that are native to the area.
In honor of the symbolism of new beginnings, many choose to get married as part of a Beltane celebration. Such weddings are known as a Handfasting.
Another celebratory activity associated with Beltane is the raising and decorating of the Maypole – which is known as a symbol of fertility.
However it is that pagans choose to celebrate, flowers are used in abundance both as accessories and as festive decorations.
Read more about this enchanting holiday in this article from The Goddess And The Green Man.
Ukrainian Flower Crown
The Ukrainian flower crown is known as a vinok, which means a wreath or a crown.
These, in my opinion, are quite possibly the most striking and lavish flower crowns around.
They are exquisite in their form, structure, and depth and are symbolic of purity and fertility.
Presently, these beauties are used to honor old traditions.
Read this article on National Geographic if you’d like to browse more beguiling photos as well as to learn more about Ukrainian flower crowns.
Hawaiian Flower Crown
Did you know that the term lei means flower garland? I didn’t.
Po’o means head.
Together they combine to mean flower crown, a.k.a. a Lei Po’o.
Lei’s are often given as gifts in celebrations and are symbolic of love, affection, and greeting. Hence, they are often given on birthdays, engagement parties, farewell celebrations, and as welcoming gifts.
If you ever visit Kauai County, Hawaii, I think you should see The Lei Collective because they can teach you how to make your own and teach you more about its history.
Victorian Era Flower Crown
Queen Victoria married Prince Albert on April 10th, 1840, and instead of wearing a dazzling royal tiara on her wedding day, she chose a charming flower crown made out of orange blossoms.
Her choice was inspired by an Ancient Chinese tradition where orange blossom flower crowns were worn for weddings to symbolize purity and fertility.
Her departure from tradition began a new one where many of her daughters and daughters-in-law also opted to wear sweet orange blossom flower crowns for their weddings.
Over time, orange blossoms became quite dear to Queen Victoria.
In response, Prince Albert, the good man that he was, gifted his Queen a series of orange blossom-themed pieces he personally designed.
If you’re interested in learning more about these pieces, I highly recommend this article: Queen Victoria snub: Why didn’t Queen Victoria wear a tiara for her wedding?
Day Of The Dead Flower Crown
Day Of The Dead is a holiday I only recently -within the last six years or so – wholly adopted and celebrate.
If you don’t know, Day Of The Dead is a wonderfully vivid holiday where many choose to honor and celebrate the lives of those we’ve loved and lost.
We celebrate amongst the living with great festive food, lively music, rich costumes and, the most iconic tradition of the holiday, raising an altar in their honor.
An altar can be dedicated to one person or to a number of people. What you choose to place on it is up to you and what you think they’d enjoy as these are generally creature comforts they indulged in while living.
Flowers play a big part in this holiday.
Marigolds are most prevalent as they are said to direct their spirits towards their alters.
Also used in abundance are roses, chrysanthemums, baby’s breath – just to name a few. These are used to craft flower crowns, often used to complete a sugar skull makeup look, or as decoration.
Here, flower crowns are symbolic of the beauty of life.
Learn more about the history of this enchanting holiday in this post: The History of Day of the Dead.
1960's Flower Crown
Finally, let’s talk about the 1960’s flower crown.
This flower crown, unlike the rest, was embraced as the political stance against war.
“Flower children” of the 1960’s distributed flowers in their hair, and to the public, as a symbol of universal belonging, peace, love, and as a way of peacefully protesting U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
Learn more about the flower child in this article.
Conclusion
I have only scratched the surface of all there is to the history of the flower crown and it’s many meanings and uses.
In the future, I will be adding to this post to include projects and more videos.
In the meantime, I would love to know which is your favorite type of flower crown? If it isn’t one that I covered here, which is it, and what is its symbolism – and do you have a picture of you wearing it?! If so, please share it in the Facebook Group!
* If you know that any part of this post is false, please let me know and I’ll make the correction. You can reach me via email: lovealways@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.com or via a direct message on Facebook or Instagram.
About The Author
Jessica Gibson
Leading Lady of Kaleidoscopes & Polka Dots.
If you have any questions about this article, or anything at all, please reach out to me at lovealways@kaleidoscopesandpolkadots.com
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