image of roman wearing laurel flower crown

From Ancient Victors to Modern Dads: Why Flower gifting for Men is an Old Tradition and not a new trend

Image above showing Roman marble head of a man wearing a laurel wreath - Reference

If you grew up in Ireland, you may have a memory of your dad, grandad or an uncle who was a "quiet man" with his hands in the earth. Maybe he had a prized rosebush by the gate, or his prized garden flowers out the back.

You might assume that flowers are just for the ladies but that's actually only a very modern idea. History shows us that flowers have always been an important part of every day life,  present for both male and female celebrations in history and played an important symbolic role in many aspects of life throughout history. 

1. The Samurai's Secret Focus

In Japan, the legendary Samurai warriors weren't just about swords and armour. They practiced Ikebana (or 'Kado' the art of flower arranging). Historically, samurai practiced ikebana to focus their minds before battle and to cultivate tranquility afterward. The precision, discipline, and aesthetic appreciation required in ikebana complement the mental discipline required in martial arts.

2. The Original Roman "Trophy"

We usually picture the Romans as all iron armor and cold stone, but their most prestigious military award wasn't made of gold or silver. It was actually the Corona Obsidionalis, or the "Grass Crown." Rather than a heavy metal trophy, it was a simple, hand-woven wreath of wild grasses and field flowers gathered from the very spot where a commander had saved an army from disaster. To the Romans, those wild blooms were the ultimate symbol of a man's courage.

3. Flowers & Irish Men -not just for romance !

In Irish May Day (Bealtaine) tradition, flowers and green branches were gathered and brought into the home or placed around doorways as part of protective and fertility customs. These activities were carried out within rural communities where it is very likely that men, as part of everyday agricultural life, were among those involved in gathering vegetation from the land for seasonal use and also likely them who gathered primroses or gorse on May Eve to scatter at the door. It was an earthy tradition meant to protect the family and bring in a good harvest.

4. The Science Behind the Smile

Did you know scientists have an actual term for the smile you get when you receive flowers? If you're worried your Dad might think flowers are a bit "soft," the science is on your side. Researchers at Rutgers University did a study specifically on how humans react to flowers. They found that men who received flowers didn't just give a polite "thanks" — they displayed a "Duchenne smile." That's the scientific term for a genuine, "all-the-way-to-the-eyes" smile. Researchers suggest that Duchenne smiles and the positive emotions they signal are an evolutionary mechanism for promoting cooperation and social bonding.

  • The Fact: Read the peer-reviewed study here.

So why not surprise your Dad with flowers this Father's Day for a change? It will no doubt bring him a bigger smile than yet another pair of socks — and you can tell him some interesting stories about the history and symbolism of flowers and men while you're at it!

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