The Easter season will for most of us bring back memories of decorating eggs, making up baskets of gifts, eating chocolate bunnies, going to church, attending family events and parades and the Easter lily. The beautiful trumpet like petals of the flower are symbols of purity, hope, and life. With these flowers comes the promise of spring. Adding Easter lilies to an Easter gift is always a perfect idea.

Thanks need to be given to World War I soldier Louis Houghton for the overall popularity of the Bermuda lily. It is also known as the Easter lily. In 1919, Louis brought a suitcase of the lily bulbs to the southern coast of Oregon, distributing them to his friends and family to plant.

This lily proved to really thrive in the climate there. It was similar to the flower's native Ryukyu Islands of Japan. By the year 1945, there were over a thousand growers on the west coast harvesting these bulbs to sell. There are only about two full weeks during the year when these flowers are commercially available. Easter lilies are estimated to be the fourth largest potted plant crop in the United States, following the poinsettia, mum, and azalea.

These elegant white flowers are pictured and written about extensively in art, history, and mythology. A famous instance occurs in the Bible in the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus says," Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Lilies are often called the "White-Robed Apostles of Hope". Lilies were discovered in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ died on the cross. During the Easter season, churches line their altars and envelop their crosses with a multitude of Easter Lilies, to signify the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life.

The pure white lily has long been a symbol of womanhood, especially in early works of art. In many early paintings, the angel Gabriel is seen presenting a branch of lilies to the Virgin Mary when informing her that she is to be the mother of the Christ child. In other paintings, saints bring vases of white lilies to Mary and Jesus. It is traditionally believed that when Eve was cast out of the Garden of Eden, she cried tears of repentance from which sprung pure white lilies: true repentance is the first step towards beauty.

The beautiful white lily has for centuries embodied thoughts joy, hope, and life. The pure white flower brings to mind purity and grace. This is why it is the perfect flower to represent Easter. Millions of homes and churches use lilies as a reminder of the true meaning of Easter. It is a time of rejoicing, celebration, and rebirth. Include the beautiful lily along with your traditional eggs and candy to keep the true meaning of Easter in mind. Looking at this beautiful flower will remind everyone of the true meaning of this special and important holiday.