Written by Amity Moore Joyce
Planted in spring to produce prolific, orange or yellow blossoms throughout summer and fall, marigolds are a popular flower this time of year–notably during Dia de los Muertos, November 1-2. The tradition began when Aztecs placed the bright, pungent flowers on altars to honor those who had died. They believed that the spirits of the dead visited during the holiday and that the vibrant-colored blooms guided them back. As such, the Aztecs held marigolds sacred. They cultivated the Targetes species and bred them to create bigger blooms.
Today, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and the tradition of marigolds continues not only in Mexico, the original lands of the Aztecs, but throughout Latin America. Marigolds represent resurrection. They celebrate life. That said, marigolds, when considered outside the context of Day of the Dead, have other meanings: grief and despair. (It’s not much of a leap, however, to recognize you might feel grief while also celebrating the life of a loved one who has passed.) Marigolds have also made their way into India’s Diwali, a festival of light that is as important to Hindus as Christmas is to Christians. National Geographic recently highlighted how the flowers are threaded as garlands and hung across doorways in India and placed on graves in Mexico as a way of bringing light to the darkness.
Middlemist likes working with these sunny flowers for fall centerpieces or autumn bouquets. They can still be sourced domestically for a wee bit longer since marigolds grow until the first frost, which is great for eco-friendly florists. Colorado could experience an early fall freeze, but south in Nevada, Arizona, and California, marigolds tend to still bloom. To honor a loved one during Dia de los Muertos, or any other time of year, contact our Golden, Colorado floral shop to see how we can incorporate marigolds into a unique floral arrangement for you.
