I’m sure you’re familiar with the exquisite “Dia De Los Muertos” masks that are famous worldwide – for one, I am crazy about them, and I even painted my face like that last Halloween.
However, I only recently discovered that most of the flowers painted on these beautiful masks are marigolds.
I started wondering what the real marigold means since, in Romania, where I’m from, marigolds represent healing and sunlight – quite different from what the Mexican masks stand for.
After extensive research, I discovered that marigolds have a very complex and powerful symbolism.
Marigolds are exquisitely beautiful flowers, most widespread in the color yellow – but they can also be red or orange.
Their solar and bright colors make them stand out, and people have generally given them positive meanings such as inner power, healing, and the inner sun of every person – the place within ourselves where we can all tap to access immense power and Divine Energy.
They represent something different in many important world cultures – from India to Mexico- and in some of the world’s most widespread religions – Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
People worldwide use marigolds in their spiritual practices, eat or drink them to benefit from their healing properties and medicinal purposes (yes, they are edible!), and they use them in tattoos or house decorations as symbols.
But because marigolds are used worldwide to represent so many different things, each person can decide which meaning applies to them and what message they are trying to send through the symbol of marigolds.
If you were looking to use marigolds in a tattoo or to decorate something, or if you’re just passionate about reading about the spiritual symbolism of the plants, let’s have a look together at the 10 main marigold spiritual meanings:
10 Meanings Of The Marigold Flower Symbolism
#1. Death and Mourning
As I start talking about the “Dia De Los Muertos” masks, I will talk about the first meaning of the marigolds – death, mourning, and honoring your dead.
Marigolds, together with chrysanthemums, cockscomb, gladiolas, white hoary stock, and the flower called baby’s breath, are used in Mexico as decorations for the famous Dia de Los Muertos – the Day of the Dead.
They are often painted on people’s faces, on masks, or simply put as “ofrenda” – which means “offering” or “tribute” for the deceased ones, on their graves, or on certain assigned altars.
In this case, marigolds are used to represent mourning, sadness, and paying tribute to the deceased one, who is commemorated and paid respect through the use of these flowers.
#2. Healing and restoration
Marigolds represent healing and restorations in many world cultures – the European culture and back in the days of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece.
In ancient cultures, people were preoccupied with finding plants with healing properties because, as they did not have medication, these plants provided the only healing they could get.
The healing properties of marigold were discovered quite fast – it can calm headaches and toothache, stomach aches, and digestion issues, and it can heal many skin problems.
Thus, marigold was widely used for medicinal teas and drinks and added to foods.
Soon, people started associating marigold with healing and restoration, and in many countries is seen as a symbol for tapping into your healing energy and the restoring power of the Sun, Divine Energy, and the human body.
In Europe, for example, people associate marigolds with healing and emphasize their medical properties.
Here, it is quite common to give a marigold to someone sick – as you are bringing the healing energy of the Sun into their house by doing this.
#3. Grief and despair
Marigolds were used to represent grief and despair back in the Victorian Era.
During these times, people would put marigolds in their houses to show that they were mourning or take marigolds to a deceased person’s grave.
This approach is quite similar to the marigold symbolism in Mexico; however, it is just a bit darker because, in the Victorian Era, people used the marigolds to signal they were truly suffering after losing a loved one.
The Mexican approach is more oriented towards respect and commemoration. Meanwhile, the Victorian approach was very sad and dark.
#4. Respect and worship
The marigold symbolism in Buddhism is all about respect, worship, and paying tribute.
Buddhists used to give marigolds as an offering to Buddha by leaving this beautiful flower in the temple.
In this case, marigolds were used to represent respect, admiration, and a sense of peace of serenity, representative of the Buddhist doctrine.
#5. Brightness and positive energy
Brightness and positive…
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