The meaning behind the lily of the valley tattoo can vary from purity to hidden dangerous depths - there is so much to explore!
As someone who studied art history, I have long been fascinated with the lily of the valley tattoo. There is so much more to this flower than meets the eye, which is why it is one of my favorite flower tattoos to design!
In this post, I will outline the lily of the valley tattoo meaning and show you the top lily of the valley tattoo designs to use as inspiration.
The lily of the valley flowers - and the lily of the valley tattoo - have many different meanings. This isn't too surprising considering that the lily of the valley can be found on various continents including Asia, Europe, and North America.
The legends surrounding the lily of the valley flowers are quite old. For instance, the lily of the valley has been associated with the god Apollo. It is said that he created a carpet of flowers on the forest ground for his nymphs to walk across.
Due to this, the lily of the valley tattoo could mean safety and comfort. The lily of the valley tattoo could also be a symbol of creating a safe space for you in troubled times.
Speaking of protection, the lily of the valley was sometimes used to ward off evil spirits bad bad witches. Therefore, you can get a lily of the valley tattoo as a way to repel negative forces and to only attract positive elements to your life.
The lily of the valley flower tends to be associated with springtime and the month of May. This is why it is sometimes referred to as the May lily. The lily of the valley and the lily of the valley tattoo is also considered the birth flower for people born in May.
If you want to get a reminder of your birthday or of someone who is near and dear to your heart, then a lily of the valley tattoo would be just perfect.
As it is associated with spring, the lily of the valley and the lily of the valley tattoo is associated with new beginnings.
Since the lily of the valley used to be linked to Ostara, the Germanic goddess of spring, the lily of the valley and the lily of the valley tattoo can be associated with purity and humility. The white color of the lilies is also what links it to purity.
In Victorian times, the lily of the valley - and the lily of the valley tattoo was said to usher in happiness. This, too may be linked to its association to springtime.
Keep in mind that spring has many positive connections. For one thing, it signals that the winter is over. Due to this, the lily of the valley and the lily of the valley tattoo can be about shaking off the old, gloomy past and embracing a bright new future.
The lily of the valley and the lily of the valley tattoo is often associated with motherhood and caregiving.
On an official level, it is Finland's national flower - therefore, if you are Finnish, then getting your official flower could be a depiction of national pride. So, if you are a mother and love your role, then a lily of the valley tattoo would be perfect for you.
Keep in mind that you can also put a more modern spin on the lily of the valley tattoo as well. Your lily of the valley tattoo doesn't have to just be for traditional mothers or caregivers. If you are nurturing or even an entrepreneur, then this could be a fitting tattoo for you.
The lily of the valley also has roots in Christian tradition. Some people believe that as Eve was cast out of the garden of Eden, she wept. Where her tears touched the ground, lilies of the valley sprung from there.
In this case, your lily of the valley tattoo could be a symbol of the end of something beautiful or a particular period in your life. This could be a relationship, friendship, or anything else that was important to you.
This kind of lily of the valley tattoo could also act as a reminder of a sad time that you have been through. Your lily of the valley tattoo could be a good way to ensure that you don't go back to that situation again.
Other people refer to the lily of the valley as Mary's tears or Our Lady's tears. It is said that as Mary, mother of Jesus cried during his crucifixion.
In this instance, the lily of the valley tattoo could be about sacrifice and how you can empathize with certain types of sacrifice as in the case of Mary's tears. Your lily of the valley tattoo could also be in honor of a loved one that you have lost.
Such a lily of the valley tattoo could also honor someone who really was seen as being too good for this world, a shining example to humanity. Of course, if you are religious, then this lily of the valley tattoo could be a beautiful depiction of your faith.
One of the things that you will undoubtedly notice about the lily of the valley is that it is a beautiful and delicate flower. However, it should never be ingested due to how poisonous it is - this is true for people as well as wild animals.
This can be an excellent description for a person, especially a woman. Although people may see you as being nothing more than a beautiful lily of the valley, there are hidden and dangerous depths to you.
The great thing about the lily of the valley tattoo is that it allows you to depict this side of you without anyone being the wiser! So, if you have a great sense of humor, then this lily of the valley tattoo is clearly for you.
With all this talk of the symbolism behind the lily of the valley and the lily of the valley tattoo, it is only natural to wonder about the meaning behind the lily flower itself.
Well, the thing to remember here is that the lily of the valley are two completely different species. Due to this, there is very little common between them. That being said, the lily and lily tattoo is sometimes associated with purity and innocence in the same way that the lily of the valley is.
Here are the top lily of the valley tattoo ideas that you can borrow from:
Are you looking for a simple lily of the valley tattoo design? Then you should choose a minimalistic concept. This idea for a lily of the valley tattoo also works well if you want a small lily of the valley tattoo.
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The lily of the valley is such a beautiful flower that it is only natural that you want to capture every detail. In this case, a realistic lily of the valley tattoo is the way to go.
For this kind of flower tattoo, look for drawings or photographs that depict the lily of the valley clearly. This will be useful to your tattoo artist to know exactly what kind of result to create for you with your lily of the valley tattoo.
Don't be surprised if many of these lily of the valley tattoo ideas are in black and grey or boast cross hatching shading.
The reason for this is that the lily of the valley is white in color. However, this can be a tricky shade to use when tattooing. White can fade rather quickly your lily of the valley tattoo. Due to this, black and grey tend to be popular tattoo designs for a lily of the valley tattoo.
Of course, this shouldn't stop you from playing around with color or even getting a lily of the valley tattoo watercolor lily design done.
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If you are looking for a creative idea for your lily of the valley tattoo, a lily of the valley tattoo that has a cartoon-like look to it could be right for you. It is certainly a great option for anyone who wants to take a more unique approach to the lily of the valley tattoo idea.
Keep in mind that this kind of lily of the valley tattoo can be simple. You can opt for a small lily of the valley tattoo, keep the flower tattoo details minimally cartoonish, or you can select an unusually colorful lily of the valley tattoo.
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If you want, you can also include other species of flowers in your lily of the valley tattoo. In some cases, these lily of the valley designs are for aesthetic purposes. After all, there are few things more lovely than a bouquet of flowers.
In other instances, though, this type of lily of the valley tattoo designs can have a deeper meaning to them. This is because almost every flower that you can think of has its own symbolism.
Therefore, if you want a more complex meaning to your lily of the valley tattoo, then strategically choose the flowers that will give your lily of the valley tattoo its desired meaning.
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Insects like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs are a natural accompaniment to flowers. So, if you would like to depict the beauty of the lily of the valley and nature, this kind of lily of the valley tattoo is a great option.
Once again, though, this lily of the valley tattoo isn't simply about beauty. Each insect can have a different symbolism behind it. For instance, bees are considered the protectors of nature.
Therefore, a bee in a lily of the valley tattoo could be seen as you wanting to protect your purity, new beginnings, or a caring aspect of you.
Lady bugs, on the other hand, are seen as a symbol for joy, good luck, and prosperity. When associated with your lily of the valley tattoo, it could be seen as positive luck for your future or new endeavors.
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Birds can also be a great accompaniment to your lily of the valley tattoo. They are symbols of freedom. Paired with your lily of the valley tattoo, you could create a tattoo that talks about hope and freedom in your future.
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The animals you depict in your lily of the valley tattoo can also have a great impact on the overall meaning.
For example, a deer could maximize on the purity angle you want to keep with your lily of the valley tattoo. On the other hand, a snake with your lily of the valley tattoo could be about transformation. It could also be about guarding your purity in a cunning way.
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If you aren't interested in a traditional lily of the valley tattoo, then check out the artistic avenues available - there are many different types of lily of the valley tattoo concepts to choose from.
If you want, you can have a playful twist to your lily of the valley tattoo. Or, you can create a thought provoking lily of the valley tattoo.
The following lily of the valley tattoo ideas will show you just what options are available.
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Lily of the valley tattoos have some truly beautiful concepts. Just choose the right meaning and design for your lily of the valley tattoo and you will be set!
