The tradition of assigning a unique flower to each month of the year has been a popular custom for centuries, offering a botanical emblem to celebrate birthdays. Most months are represented by a single bloom, yet October stands out as one of the few months with two recognized floral symbols. This dual representation suggests a complex history behind the practice of monthly flower assignments. To understand why October is celebrated with two separate flowers, one must look closely at the blooms themselves and the evolution of the tradition.
Identifying the October Birth Flowers
October’s dual floral symbols are the Marigold and the Cosmos. The Marigold, belonging to the genus Tagetes, is instantly recognizable for its dense, ruffled flower heads that display a fiery palette of yellow, orange, and deep red hues. These sturdy annuals are known for their distinctive, almost spicy scent and their ability to continue blooming vigorously until the season’s first hard frost.
The Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) presents a more delicate, airy appearance, with slender stems topped by symmetrical, daisy-like flowers. These blooms often come in shades of white, pink, purple, and red, providing a softer contrast to the Marigold’s intense color.
The Origin of Birth Flower Traditions
The concept of monthly birth flowers is deeply rooted in floriography, or the language of flowers. This practice gained widespread popularity during the Victorian era, where flowers were used as a coded means of communication to convey messages and emotions. It was during this period that the symbolism of many common garden flowers became established and formalized into various lists.
The tradition’s origins extend further back, with ancient Roman customs often incorporating seasonal flowers into monthly festivals. The selection of which flower represented which month was largely based on local availability, folklore, and cultural symbolism. This informal, regional approach meant that a single, universally accepted list of birth flowers did not exist for many years.
Factors Leading to October’s Dual Representation
The primary reason for October having two birth flowers is the initial lack of standardization when the tradition was formalized into print. Early published lists of monthly flowers varied widely depending on the region of origin, such as different traditions established in Britain versus the United States. This variation meant that different sources assigned different flowers to the same month, resulting in overlapping and sometimes contradictory designations.
The Marigold is often considered the more traditional of the two, possessing a long history of cultural and medicinal use. The Cosmos was likely added later as an alternative, or simply included in a separate, popular list that gained circulation. The delicate beauty of the Cosmos, whose name is derived from the Greek word for “order” or “harmony,” made it a favorite addition to modern lists.
Cultural Significance of Marigold and Cosmos
Each of October’s flowers carries a rich and distinct symbolic meaning. The Marigold is strongly associated with passion, creativity, and the warmth of the sun due to its bright coloring. Culturally, the Marigold holds a profound meaning in Mexico, where it is known as cempasúchil and plays a central role in the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Its strong fragrance and vivid color are believed to guide the spirits of the deceased back to their families’ altars and homes.
The Cosmos flower, by contrast, symbolizes peace, tranquility, and order, a meaning derived directly from its Greek name, kosmos. Its perfectly arranged, symmetrical petals suggest balance and completeness.