The world is compounded of three elements--Earth, Water and Air.
Man also is three--Body, Soul and Spirit; and the kingdom of Nature--Mineral, Animal and Vegetable.
There are three Christian Graces--Faith, Hope and Charity, and three enemies of mankind, the World, Flesh and Devil.
The number “Four” symbolises the quarters of the World--the Winds--the Gospels--the Evangelists and the four sacred Rivers.
“Five” signifies the Cross and the Five Wounds.
“Seven” has also been regarded as a mystic number, as in the Days of Creation, the days of the week, the Spirits before the Throne, the Ages in the life of man, the seven-armed candlesticks of the Hebrews; the sleepers of Ephesus; the champions of Christendom and the Wonders of the world.
Certain flowers and trees were in ancient times dedicated to the Deities.
The cornel cherry tree and the laurel were sacred to Apollo; the Cypress and Maidenhair to Pluto; the Dittany to the Moon; the Lily to Juno; the Myrtle to Venus; the Narcissus and Poppy to Ceres; the Oak to Jupiter; the Olive to Minerva; and the Vine to Bacchus. The Laurel wreath was given to the victor in the Pythian games. The victor in the Olympic games had a wreath of wild olive--of green parsley in the Nemean games, and of dried parsley or green pine in the Isthmian games.
The Ancients believed that the laurel communicated the spirit of prophecy and poetry; hence the custom of crowning the Pythoness and poets. In modern times the laurel is a symbol of Victory and Peace.
The Olive, sacred to Pallas Athenē, was anciently a symbol of peace, an olive twig in the hands of kings, as represented on medals indicating a peaceful reign. The Palm also symbolised Victory, and in Christian Art is generally borne by the martyr--indicating victory over Death. The Lily--which, according to tradition, sprang from the repentant tears of Eve as she went forth from Paradise--is the emblem of Chastity, Innocence and Purity and is associated with representations of the Virgin. The Daffodil or Lenten Lily, which it was customary to plant on graves, was once white, the tradition being that Persephone, daughter of Demeter, delighted to wander about the flowering meads of Sicily. One springtime she tripped over the meadows, wreathed her head with wild lilies and, throwing herself on the leaves, fell asleep. Pluto, god of the infernal regions, fell in love with her and carried her to the nether world. At his touch the white flowers changed to a golden yellow.