Violets: the flower of “Un ramito de violetas”

What it means to give violets

The violet is the flower of modesty, faithfulness and discreet love. It grows low, hidden among its leaves, and is often noticed for its scent before its color. In the 19th-century language of flowers, giving violets meant saying “I’ll love you forever” without making a fuss.

That idea of love in silence is exactly what the song that made the violet the star of a trend is about.

“Un ramito de violetas” and November 9

In 1975 the Spanish singer-songwriter Cecilia released “Un ramito de violetas” (A little bunch of violets). The song tells the story of a woman who receives a bunch of violets every November 9 with no card and dreams of a secret admirer; the ending reveals that the sender was her own husband. Years later, the version by the Chilean singer Zalo Reyes made it popular again in Latin America.

On TikTok, that date became the day for giving purple flowers to your “purple person”, someone who arrived recently in your life and is already essential:

Violet season

The sweet violet blooms in late winter and spring: in Spain, from February to April. In other words, in November there are hardly any seasonal violets in the northern hemisphere. By region:

• Spain: February, March.
• Mexico and Central America: out of local season (greenhouse-grown or imported).
• Argentina, Chile and Uruguay: out of local season (greenhouse-grown or imported).

What’s more, as a cut flower it is very delicate: it lasts two or three days. So for November 9 the most realistic thing is to give a pot of violets (or an African violet, which is a different plant but flowers almost all year) or any other purple flower.

Other purple flowers for November 9

• Purple lisianthus: it looks like a delicate rose and lasts more than a week.
• Lavender: dried or fresh, fragrant and very cheap.
• Iris: elegant, in an intense purple.
• Purple chrysanthemums: available all November, but avoid them in Spain: there they are associated with All Saints’ Day, a week earlier.
• Alstroemeria and statice: inexpensive and hardy, for volume.
• Purple hydrangea or purple roses (dyed) if you want a showier bouquet.

Fun facts about violets

In Madrid, violet candies have been a typical sweet since the early 20th century, and in Toulouse, France, the flowers are candied. Legend has it that Napoleon promised to return from his exile on Elba “with the violets”, in spring, and his followers adopted the flower as a symbol. And in perfumery, violet is one of the classic scents: its molecules, the ionones, have the curious effect of numbing your sense of smell for a few moments, which is why the scent seems to come and go.

Remind me 3 days before

Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.

Add to my calendar (.ics)Google Calendar ↗

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to give violets?

Modesty, faithfulness and discreet or secret love. That is the message of “Un ramito de violetas”, in which an anonymous admirer sends violets every November 9.

Why are purple flowers given on November 9?

Because of the song “Un ramito de violetas” (A little bunch of violets) by Cecilia (1975). On TikTok it became the day for giving purple flowers to your “purple person”.

Can you buy violets in November?

It’s difficult: violets bloom from February to April in Spain and as a cut flower they last very little. The most practical thing is to give a pot or any purple flower.

Which purple flowers can I give instead of violets?

Lisianthus, lavender, iris, alstroemeria, statice, purple chrysanthemums or purple roses. They’re all available in November.

What are violet candies?

A traditional Madrid sweet with a violet flavor, sold since the early 20th century. There are also candied violets in Toulouse (France).