Love Garden Pansies 2010 Forever Postage Stamps Adhesive Sheet for Wedding Invitations

The pansy has been associated with love since ancient times. Its name comes from the French word pense, meaning “thought,” and is named for the flower’s resemblance to a human face. In many cultures around the world, pansies are believed to inspire thoughts of loved ones and even heal broken hearts.

According to Greek legend, the god of love Eros (known as Cupid in Roman mythology) once shot a love arrow at a young woman, but missed and instead hit a flower, turning it purple and causing it to smile. English playwright William Shakespeare referenced this myth in his play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In his story, mischievous forest fairies make a love potion that causes the characters to fall in love using the lazy love plant, which was “formerly milky white, but now purple with the wounds of love.”