Know more about Carnations – The January Flower

The official flower for January is Carnation. The scientific name is Dianthus caryophyllus and it belongs to the Mediterranean regions of Croatia, Greece, Italy (including Sicily and Sardinia), and Spain. In the Greek language “Dios” means God and “anthos” means flowers. That makes carnations the flower of gods. Carnation is one of the most famous cut-flowers that are profusely used in bouquets and various flower arrangements. As a gift or to deck up a place – carnations are well-appreciated.

Here are some amazing facts about Carnations – The January flower

1. About 2000 years ago, Carnations were mentioned in Greek literature.
2. Some people believe that the name “carnation” is derived from “coronation” or “corone” because it was used in ceremonial crowns in Greece.
3. Many also believe that “carnation” is derived from the Latin word “caro” which refers to the original color of the flower.
4. Red carnations symbolize love & romance while white carnations symbolize innocent love and good luck.
5. Pink carnations are the most famous Mother’s Day flowers because they represent the mother’s love. It is said that when Jesus Christ was crucified, Mother Mary was weeping and these carnations took birth when her teardrops reached the soil.
6. The smell of the carnation flower is spicy and mostly like a clove.
7. Carnations are also edible flowers that are used in wine, candies, or cake decorations.
8. Do, you know that since the 17th century, the famous French liquor named Chartreuse has been using carnation petals?
9. Carnation flowers are dried to make tea. This carnation tea is a healthy tea that is full of minerals. It improves the blood circulation, flushes out toxins from the body, and strengthens metabolism.
10. Carnation flower tea is recommended for those women who have irregular menstruation cycle but pregnant women should avoid this tea.
11. Which region produces most carnations? It’s Bogota – the capital of Colombia.
12. Carnation is the national flower of Spain, Slovenia, and Monaco.
13. The red-colored carnation is one of the 5 national flowers of Portugal.
14. Do you know that in France, carnations are infused in oils, skin creams, and muscle relaxants? It is also used as a treatment for hair loss.
15. Sometimes carnations are used as a substitute for roses in making syrups.
16. It is fascinating to learn that 500kg of carnation flowers produce 100gms of essential oil. This carnation oil is anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, sedative, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, stimulant, and styptic in nature.
17. Some other use of carnation flower essential oil is that it helps in eliminating wrinkles, aids in promoting good sleep, heal skin rashes.
18. The carnation flower heads are dried to use in potpourri.
19. The leaves of the carnation plant can be simmered in water and that water can be used as a soap for cleaning clothes and skin both.
20. Another thrilling carnation flower fact is that the largest flower awareness ribbon that was created to raise awareness for breast cancer research was made out of 105,000 pink carnations. It is a Guinness World Record.