The Easter Lily is a fitting symbol for Irish nationalists. It blooms in the springtime, which coincides with the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, in which Irish rebels took control of major buildings in Dublin and declared Ireland an independent republic.

Some churches will ask for donations for Easter lilies in memoriam of loved ones. These then form part of the floral display for the week’s services. Potted Easter lilies can be replanted for the following year, which continues the theme of resurrection. But if cut lilies are past their best, there is nothing to be done but recognize the fact that death follows life. As Shakespeare wrote: “For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.” Since the 1930s, successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments attempted to suppress sales of the Easter Lily. Over the decades many republicans have been harassed, arrested and jailed for keeping alive the memory of the men and women of the Easter Rising through promotion of the Easter Lily. In February 1935, the Fianna Fáil leadership instructed the party to stop selling the Lily as it was “the symbol of an organisation of whose methods we disapprove”. For its Easter commemmorations that same year, Fianna Fáil introduced a new symbol called the ‘Easter Torch’. This was sold for a number of years but was discontinued as the badge proved unpopular with the party grassroots, many of whom continued to wear the Easter Lily.

Hanukkah 

Today, Irish republicans continue to wear the Easter Lily to honour all those who have given their lives in the cause of Irish freedom in 1916 and in every decade since. Issued from the Publicity Department, Easter Lily Committee, Cumann na mBan, 12, St. Andrew Street, Dublin. In the early years of their existence, people from a broad political spectrum - from Fianna Fáil to Sinn Féin - wore lilies, which were sold by members of those political parties as well as the IRA, Fianna Éireann, and Conrad na Gaeilge. Martin Ferris TD and Senator Pearse Doherty recently wrote to all TDs and senators, encouraging them to wear the Lily this Easter.

The first Easter Lily badges were designed in 1925 by the republican women’s organisation, Cumann na mBan. The dual purpose of the badge was to raise money for the Republican Prisoners’ Dependents Fund and to honour the sacrifice made by the men and women of the 1916 Rising. The fleur-de-lis, a stylised depiction of a lily, became the official emblem of Florence in the eleventh century. In Italian cities, as in much of medieval Europe, the new year used to be celebrated on March 25, the feast day of the Annunciation, nine months before Christmas. Also known as “Lady Day,” unlike Easter, it was fixed in the calendar. In Britain, the new year began on March 25 until 1752, when our calendar changed from the Julian to the Gregorian and the dates were adjusted so that the new new year started on April 5, which became an important feast day for accountants and tax lawyers. It has recently (1933) been suggested that a monument fitting to the memory of the Men of Easter Week should be erected on the GPO. The greatest, nay, the only, monument worthy to commemorate their sacrifice is the realisation of their aims and objects - the enthronement of the Irish republic. It signifies the union of North and South through love and friendship. It is the symbol of republican Ireland.The Lily has long been associated with the 1916 Rising and the first badges were designed in 1925 by the republican women’s organisation, Cumann na mBan. The dual purpose of the original badge was to raise money for the Republican Prisoners’ Dependents Fund and to honour the sacrifice made by the men and women of the 1916 Rising.

The green represents the ancient Celtic people, and the orange represents the Protestant settlers. With the white in between symbolises the peace and respect between the two. Traditionally, Easter Lilies were sold outside church gates on Easter Sunday and worn at republican commemorations. In the early years of their existence, people from a broad political spectrum – from Fianna Fáil to Sinn Féin, the IRA and Fianna Éireann promoted the Lily as did non-political organisations such as Conradh na Gaeilge.Every succeeding year has seen the lily more widely worn until last year (1932), when the emblem was displayed by 99 per cent of the population. An English paper describing last year’s (1932) display, wrote: “Every man, woman and child in the procession wore an Easter lily, the emblem of the Republican Ireland, which pledges the bearer to use every endeavour to break the connections with England and to establish a free and sovereign Irish Republic. Not only that, but what was more significant, the lily was worn by nine out of 10 of the throngs of spectators who watched the marching thousands.” Cumann na mBan created the Easter Lily nine years after the Rising. It was sold to raise money to help support the families that had lost their husbands and fathers. At the time, people in Ireland were still suffering the after effects of war. The Irish War of Independence had followed the Easter Rising, with an estimated 550 republicans and 750 civilians being killed. The original Easter Lily badge was hand-made by republicans, who sold it often at great risk throughout the country. Simultaneously with the hoisting of the flag a proclamation, stating their aims and objects, signed by Padraig Pearse, James Connolly, Tom Clarke and the four other members of the Provisional Government, was issued from the GPO.