Lilies bloom at Easter, a time of renewal
Pots filled with lilies will bloom inside churches as Christians celebrate Easter on March 31 — or May 5 for those of the Orthodox Christian faith.
But how did these beautiful flowers become the symbol of Easter?
Everything about the lily speaks of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said via email.
“Jesus often used common, ordinary things to teach lessons,” Zubik said. “In the Gospel of Matthew, he used a lily to encourage his followers to look at how beautifully God had made them.”
The white color of a lily symbolizes purity — which is why Jesus’ mother, Mary, is often depicted with a lily, Zubik said.
“There is even a legend that lilies sprouted in the Garden of Gethsemane, in spots where the blood that he sweat during his agonized prayer fell onto the ground,” Zubik said.
The flowers’ trumpet-like shape heralds the miraculous news that Jesus has risen from the dead, according to Zubik. Even the life cycle of lilies — bulbs that die and are reborn each year — emulates the great mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The week leading up to Easter is usually busy when it comes to lilies, according to Bob Baker, who owns DBEC Wholesale in Hempfield with his wife, Dorothy. This past week, he expected to process 5,000 lilies in his 22,000-square-foot warehouse. They are delicate, so they must be kept at a cool enough temperature and delivered promptly when they arrive at the warehouse, Baker said. Because of their height, they travel in large boxes.
Dave Rankin, a clerk of session at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum, said the lily represents springtime, when nature comes back to life.
“It’s about jubilation,” he said.
The holiday being early this year most likely created a challenge for greenhouses to get them to bloom even earlier than usual, Rankin said.
Baker concurred, saying the lilies you see this time of the year are nursery-grown through forced blooming techniques.
Lilies are not as abundant as they used to be, Baker said. He buys lilies from Canada and a few local nurseries. He said the shortage is because some of the suppliers who used to grow lilies are now growing cannabis — but boxes of lilies have been arriving daily.
“Lilies look so beautiful when you see a lot of them together and they all bloom at the same time,” he said.
The Easter lily symbolizes purity, said Baker’s daughter, Cindy Bazar, adding that incorporating lilies with other spring flowers creates a picturesque view, which is welcome after the dreariness of winter.
“That purity is embodied in the person of Jesus, through whose sacrifice we can be purified from sin,” Catholic Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry J. Kulick said via email. “The sweet fragrance of the lily is reminiscent of the sweetness of Christ’s conquering of sin and death.”
Lilies are a genus of plants that have distribution throughout the northern hemisphere, mostly in the temperate regions but extending south to the subtropics, according to Ben Dunigan, director of horticulture at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section.
What is known as the Easter lily is Lilium liliflorum and is native to Japan. In addition to Easter lilies, Asiatic and daylilies are among the most popular, Dunigan said.
There are 789 lilies in the Phipps’ Spring Flower Show: A Closer Look, which runs through April 14.
“We change out flowers during the show to keep everything fresh,” Dunigan said. “We want it to look as good on the first day as does on the last.
“And that includes lilies.”
If you remove the yellow anthers (be careful because it can stain clothes), the plant will keep longer — possibly up to three to four weeks, Dunigan said.
Lilies can be planted outdoors, Dunigan said, but they are a favorite of deer.
“If you want to eventually plant it outside, take some time to enjoy it inside first,” Dunigan said. “I love the smell. They are so fragrant. You might see different colors such as pink, but white is the traditional.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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