Passion Flower: Symbolism and Meaning
Passionflower is a genus of more than 500 species of the family Passifloraceae. Most species of the passion plant are found in neotropical regions of America. Passion plants are mostly ornamental or grown to harvest edible fruits. Passion plants are also a host for butterflies. Let us read about passion flower symbolism.
Most passion flowers are climbers. They have tendrils most of the time, while some of them are shrubs and herbs. Passion plants can either be woody or herbaceous. The Passion flower represents the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the last moments that Christ suffered on the cross before his death and resurrection.
This article will enable you to understand the meaning and symbolism of the passion flower in our daily lives.
What Meaning Does this Flower Hold?
The Passion Flower is a vine that comes back year after year if taken good care of. This flower is mostly purple. It can, however, have the colors white and dark lavender. The flower has five petals and five sepals when it blooms. It also has purple corona filaments.
Passionflower mostly blooms from June to September. Its appearance signifies new life. A new era that comes with new things to behold. It is a sign of hope for a better tomorrow no matter the challenges we face in life. Giving up should never be an option for you when things are going south. Always have faith that things will work out for the better.
Passion Flower symbolism urges you to create balance in your life. You cannot make something of your life if the same is in shambles. Believe that you can achieve great things and start working on them. Balance all aspects of your life, and you will never get disappointed.
Small fruits grow from the Passion plant, and they are known as maypop fruits. They are small yellow fruits that are beneficial to birds and insects. When picked at the right time, these fruit juices can be extracted for use in making tea which is beneficial to us.
The Symbolic Meaning Of Passion Flower
This flower is symbolic of the Passion of Jesus Christ. It is a sign of the events that took place in the last hours before Christ died. So many things happened which played a major role in the salvation of humankind.
The passion flower has physical characteristics that represent the events at Calvary.
Corona Filaments
The Corona filaments of this flower are purple, and they grow in a ring above the flower’s petals and sepals. These filaments symbolize the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head at Calvary. Corona means being in the shape of a crown. The crown of thorns was put on Jesus’ head as a mockery of his Kingship nature, yet the Romans had nailed him on the cross.
Three Stigmas
The Passion flower has three stigmas that are on top of the petals, sepals, and corona filaments. These stigmas symbolize the three nails that help Jesus Christ on the cross. They form the basis of the passion flower, and without them, the flower cannot survive or bloom again.
Petals and Sepals
This flower has five petals and five sepals. In symbolism, the sepals are categorized as petals. The ten petals represent the ten faithful disciples who remained at Jesus Christ’s side during the crucifixion.
Anthers
Right below the three stigmas of the Passion flower, we find five anthers. Anthers produce pollen in flowers for purposes of fertilization. These anthers are symbolic of the five wounds that Jesus suffered on the cross. These wounds were inflicted on him by the Roman soldiers.
Maypop Fruit
The maypop fruit is characteristic of the Passion flower. It is a sign of this world that Jesus Christ saved when He died on the cross. The fruit is round, which is why it is characterized as the earth in this case.
From the foregoing, it is clear that this flower is symbolic of hope, grace, balance, unity, love, and sacrifice. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself so that we would be free of sin. Currently, He is in heaven praying to the Father on our behalf. Jesus conquered death. He dies on the cross but is resurrected on the third day and lives forever.
Usage Of This Flower
The meaning of the Passion flower reveals that this flower is not only used to make your compound beautiful. It has medicinal properties as well that keep us healthy and going. It is believed that this flower has some chemical properties that have a calming effect on people with anxiety. Oral consumption of these chemicals reduces the symptoms of anxiety.
This flower also has chemical properties that remedy insomnia. It is believed that people who have a problem sleeping find relief once they have used Passion Flower products.
The calming effects of the passion flower also help in reducing stress. Many people tackle stress in their lives and rely on plant extracts to help them with the same. More people are leaning towards traditional medication than Western medication.
Many people use passion Flower extract for flavoring. This is mostly done in tea and not pastries or soups. It is said that this extract adds a great flavor that is mostly supplemented with sugar or honey to taste.
The Passionflower fruit is sour but sweet when picked at the right time. Its taste is similar to that of an Apricot.
Passion Flower Symbolism: Conclusion
The Passion flower is symbolic of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is Christian belief that Christ died on the cross as a sacrifice on behalf of humanity for their sinful nature. He died to save us all from sin. This flower brings out the last hours of Christ’s moments on the cross.
The death of Christ is a sign that there is hope for a better tomorrow free from sin and the challenges that we face every day. It is a sign that Christ’s death on the cross brought balance to the world and happiness to humankind.
Christian Missionaries discovered the Passion flower in South America. On observing the flower, they discovered that its physical characteristics are in line with the occurrences of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Since then, the mantra ‘Passion of Christ’ has stuck to date.
Many people all over the world use the Passion flower to teach about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This flower mostly grows in South America and parts of Mexico. However, today, it can be found in most parts of the world.