October’s Birth Flower

How wonderful is fall? We love the changing of the seasons and the long cool nights with a cup of hot chocolate! Leaves are starting to hit the floor and all the crops are done for the year. But one birth flower thrives in October and all the way to the end of November…the Marigold! Learn about October’s birth flower below!!

 The Beautiful Marigold (Calendula)

Pot Marigold (Calendula) and Marigold (tagetes) are both members of the Asteraceae family but are two different plants. Both with a rich history, great medical uses, and both are extremely beautiful. There is some debate to which Marigold is October’s birth flower…so we just did both! 

A bit of history – Marigolds were one of a few sacred flowers to the Aztecs and were used for their medicinal properties and decorations. In the 1500s when the Spanish explorers visited South America they took the sacred flower seeds from the Aztecs and brought them back to Spain. This flower became extremely popular and quickly spread through Europe, down south to Africa, and over to India.
 
Marigolds (tagetes) are used in many festivals around the world like Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico and Diwali festival in India! In Mexico, the marigold is known as the flower of the dead because the flower heads would be scattered around graves to honor those who moved on to the other world (marigolds are also known to repel insects)!

Marigolds are wildly used in Hindu weddings because the brightness of the flower represents the sun and symbolizes positive energy!
 

Medicinal uses of Marigold (Calendula)

 So many….like so many! Marigolds are so unreal, they have been used for thousands of years for all sorts of ailments. Making a whole plant poultice can be used for anything from bites to stings, varicose veins, bruises, and so much more. Dried leaves and peddles can be turned into a tea increase circulation throughout the body. Taking a tincture of marigold helps speed up the healing time of wounds! Always check with a certified herbalist before using any tinctures or poultices!

 

Planting marigolds in your garden will help repel harmful incests from attacking your herbs and produce. They also make a beautiful addition to any display that will last well into the fall months and they smell fantastic!

 

Significance of October’s Birth Flower 

Culture, color, scientific name, and location really defines the significance of the marigold (tagetes). The colors are most commonly orange, yellow, and red and are associated with positivity and warmth due to the colors matching the sun. In some cultures, it represents new beginnings in marriage or jealousy in others. The most common symbology behind October’s birth flower is positivity and creativity!

 
Did you enjoy learning about October’s birth flower? Well, we have a whole bunch more birth flowers for you to read about HERE! While we have your attention, why don’t you check out our PIPETOBERFEST blog!

References:

http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/c/calendula-officinalis=pot-marigold.php

https://www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/annuals/marigolds/marigold-history/article10006.html

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