Crocus Flower Meaning and Symbolism

Crocus flowers have been used as symbols throughout history. Not only do they have aesthetic value, but they also have cultural and religious significance across the world. These are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and intriguing blooms.

The Crocus flower is said to symbolize new beginnings or spiritual rebirth. The symbolism stems partly from the fact that many types under the genus are spring-bloomers. The autumn-blooming types are associated with hope. Crocus flowers are associated with renewal, joy, and romantic devotion.

The Crocus is easily a stunner, but there is certainly more than meets the eye. If you’d like to learn more about the origins and rich history of this bloom, keep reading until the end of the article to learn more.

What Does a Crocus Flower Symbolize?

A Crocus flower is universally esteemed as a symbol of rebirth, joy, hope, and romantic devotion. Their symbolic association with rebirth arises from the fact that they signal the coming of spring because they bloom before the last layers of snow vanish. Spring itself is symbolic of rebirth.

Its symbolic meaning may vary slightly by culture, but the underlying themes of new beginnings, revival, or reinvigoration are constant. To understand how the Crocus flower became such a moving symbol, you need to have a baseline knowledge of the stories that shaped the symbolism.

The Myths Behind the Crocus Flower

The Crocus flower has the distinction of having several mythical origins through which its symbolism was conceived. It is hard to pinpoint which culture has the true claim to the flower because even its etymology is multi-cultural.

The word crocus is said to be derived from the Greek translation for saffron. Some experts lean towards the theory that the origins are Middle Eastern, with the root word traced back to several Middle Eastern languages. For example:

Arabic’s kurkum
Aramaic’s kurkama
Hebrew’s karkōm

Some even believe Crocus is derived from the Sanskrit word kunkumam. The debate continues regarding which language or culture the word crocus is derived from. In this section, we will explore the myths behind the powerful and poignant symbolism of the Crocus Flower.

Crocus and Hermes

As the legend goes, Crocus was the lover of Hermes, the Olympian god of trade, wealth, fertility, and travel. Hermes mortally wounded Crocus in a game of discus by accident. The death of Crocus devastated Hermes, who, in his grief, turned his lover’s body into the Crocus flower we know today.

The Crocus became known as the sacred flower of Hermes. Receiving a Crocus flower was regarded as a sign that Hermes had visited the receiver.

Crocus the Slain Infant

In another myth, Crocus was said to have been the infant child of Europa, a Phoenician princess.

The gods of Olympus came down for a tournament. A poorly aimed discus throw by Hermes ended up hitting Crocus, who died instantly from the blow. The blood of the slain infant spilled onto the ground, and out of the blood-soaked ground sprung the Crocus flower.

Zeus and Hera

In this mythical version, Crocus is not a person. The story goes that Zeus and Hera were once on the banks of a river, locked in a passionate embrace. So deep and earnest was their love that Crocus flowers sprang out of the ground around them, draping the river bank with a carpet of breathtaking blooms.

For this reason, the Crocus is sometimes said to symbolize the passion between lovers.

Crocus and Smilax

The story of Crocus and Smilax has several versions, all of which have tragic ends. In the most popular version, Crocus was a young Spartan who fell in love with the nymph Smilax.

Initially, Smilax reciprocated the love. However, she grew tired of Crocus and lost interest in him, so Smilax cast a spell that turned Crocus into a flower. In this version of the myth, the Crocus is said to symbolize unrequited love.

In a slight variation of the myth of Crocus and Smilax: the latter dies, leaving Crocus in utter despair and grief. The gods took pity and put Crocus out of his misery by turning both him and Smilax into flowers to ensure that they could be reunited in the afterlife, where their love would endure for eternity.

Finally, another version tells of a forbidden love in which the gods would not permit Crocus to marry Smilax. Heartbroken, Crocus committed suicide. Moved by their tragic love story, Flora, the goddess of plants, turned the lovers into Crocus flowers so that neither mortals nor gods could forbid their love.

The different versions of the Crocus and Smilax myth generally symbolize the enduring union between lovers made eternal by their rebirth or reincarnation as flowers. It is a symbol of love that is given a second chance. This is why it became customary to use Crocus flowers at Greek weddings.

Even today, Crocus flowers can be seen gracing Greek weddings. They are also spread out on the honeymoon bed of newlyweds in India to symbolize the harmony and everlasting love of matrimony.

Crocus Flowers in Spells & Amulets

Crocus flowers are so powerfully symbolic that they are associated with spells and amulets that bring their possessor’s love and luck. Saffron is a likely ingredient of the many love potions we read about in folklore and plant witchery.

Dried saffron is kept by believers in sachets to attract love. They are also put under the pillow to drive away nightmares. When sprinkled around the home, they bring prosperity and health to the household.

Crocus Flower Association to Deities & Saints

The Crocus flower is also associated with a few deities and saints. In this section, we will look at some of the goddesses and saints symbolized by the Crocus flower. Here are some from Greek mythology:

Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn: The Crocus flower clumps up at night and spreads its petal in the morning. For this reason, it is associated with Aurora.
Persephone, Goddess of the Underworld: Like Persephone, who emerges from the underworld, Crocus flowers bloom in spring.

A saint associated with the Crocus flower is St. Valentine, associated by Christianity with the tradition of courtly love. According to the story, St. Valentine was a 3rd-century saint who treated a blind girl. He would take her on walks through fields abundant with Crocus flowers. She would pick the flowers for her father.

When St. Valentine was arrested and sentenced to death, he wrote a farewell letter to the blind girl. Enclosed in the letter was a pressed Crocus flower. When the blind girl opened the letter and touched the pressed bloom, she immediately gained her sight.

This was the same day St. Valentine was martyred. The date was February 14. This is how the Crocus flower came to be associated with Valentine’s Day.

Color of Crocus Flowers and Their Meanings

The Crocus flower usually comes in breathtaking purple, white, and yellow shades. Each color is associated with a specific symbolic meaning, giving it significance for particular occasions. Here are the meanings and occasions associated with the different colors:

White: Innocence, purity, truth, rebirth, new beginnings. Ideal for baptisms.
Yellow: Youthful vitality, hope, and happiness. Can be given at birthdays, anniversaries, and housewarmings
Purple: Royalty, spirituality, magic, success. Can be given as congratulatory gifts for graduations, promotions, and other milestones

Final Thoughts

The Crocus flower has many myths behind it. It’s not surprising that its cultural and spiritual significance is also varied. In floral language, the Crocus flower symbolizes rebirth, new beginnings, and second chances. It is also used to symbolize enduring love.