I've worked as a florist for many years, as far back as I can remember June was PROM season and the rush for corsages and boutonnieres was on!
I just did some reading on the subject of corsages and boutonnieres and found that they go back as far as the 15th century French society. As they are both French words who's meaning has evolved through the centuries to what we know now, the route of the word corsage came from the description of a woman's body, evolved later to mean specifically a woman's bust and then a flower to adorn her on special occasions such as weddings, formals and today, proms and graduation. The Greeks considered flowers and herbs to be spiritual as they would warding off evil. Corsages started as a cluster of flowers a woman wore at her bust on the bodice of her dress, later on worn on the shoulder or lapel and today mostly on the wrist.
So for all those doe eyed teenagers graduating from high school and headed off to prom, they are following a centuries old tradition when purchasing a corsage and boutonniere for their prom date. Most probably have no clue where this tradition came from, but I hope they enjoy this formal "icing on the cake" moment that so many ladies and gentleman throughout history have kept up and passed along to them.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2022!!!
