Understand why people offer flowers to Yemanjá

It is common to offer flowers in rituals that worship Iemanjá, but do you know everything about the flowers she likes? And more, do you know how these rituals with flowers are performed? Come find out right now how the flowers for Yemanja are used and what they are.

Iemanjá is considered a Goddess and is much worshiped in various religions, such as Umbanda, Quimbanda and Candomblé. However, we can also find the symbolism of Iemanjá in Catholicism, taking the name of Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes. See now all about the flowers for Iemanjá.

Flowers for Yemanja

It is common to carry out rituals to show faith, love and fidelity to Iemanjá, so it is common to have several flowers for Iemanjá, always in white and of different types.

Meaning of using flowers for Iemanjá of white color

In all types of rituals, whether performed indoors or outdoors, many different types of flowers are used, but there is a common feature between them, being their color, always white.

We know that Iemanjá is very linked to peace, harmony and union between people who live inside the same house, so it is common for the color white to be one of its symbols. But we cannot forget that it is not only the white color that symbolizes it, because the blue color is also a representative of the seas, oceans, rivers and lakes, that is, it represents the greatest strength of Iemanjá to the water.

Flowers for Iemanjá have several meanings. Some use it in the form of spiritual cleansing, warding off evil spirits, remembering that cleaning with flowers can be carried out at home, in centers or even in the sea and rivers.

Bathing with flowers is a widely used way to have a good day, fulfill a wish or even show adoration with Iemanjá. Not forgetting that the gongá (altar) for Iemanjá, must be decorated with many flowers, to demonstrate the respect that one has for the Goddess and Queen of the Seas.

What are the most used flowers to honor Iemanjá?

In rituals, it is common to follow the preference for certain types of flowers for Iemanjá, the following being the most common:

• White Rose;
• white palm;
• white angelica;
• white chrysanthemum;
• white cologne;
• white orchid.

Flowers convey peace, joy and even pass the feeling of pleasure when contemplating their beauty. In addition to invigorating and refreshing through the baths that are watered by them. The brightness and beauty are referred to the divinity, enchantment and purity of Iemanjá.

How are rituals and offerings made?

Just as many beings considered saints offer protection to people, it is common to make thanks in the form of offerings containing flowers to Iemanjá. As a result of these thanks, it is common that at certain times of the year, we find a small wooden boat with white flowers, returning from the sea.

The faithful who make their offering in flowing rivers and in the sea, faithfully believe that when the boats with the flowers return it is because the Goddess did not accept their offering and this can lead to unfulfilled requests or that the person may be losing their faith.

Thus, when this occurs, it is normal for the person to avoid entering the sea and in places that are the domain of the goddess, trying to purify himself with more baths and more offerings of flowers.

The majority of fishermen and sailors who are considered children of Iemanjá have the custom of taking a bath watered with white flowers before going on the high seas, as it is like a sign that the protection of Iemanjá will be with them.

Another tradition of fishermen is to take their offerings inside the boat until they are on the high seas, ensuring that the Goddess receives and feels the love and devotion of her faithful.

This is because all places that have water, such as the seas, rivers, lakes and oceans are considered to be the total domain of Iemanjá, remembering that the forces and good vibes of Iemanjá are emanated from these places.

When a child of Iemanjá is born, there is the custom of blessing him, like a baptism, in water with white flower petals, representing the strength and protection that the Goddess will exercise over the child.

When is Yemanja Day celebrated?

Sending flowers to Iemanjá is normally done at the end of the year, on December 31, when another ritual is performed to Iemanjá, which is the seven-wave jump, in which the waves take everything unwanted away.

Another important date to send flowers to Iemanjá is February 2nd, considered in Brazil as the National Day of the Queen of the Seas.

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