By Claire C. McKiernan


            Take a glance at the artistically rendered WBWC logo. What do you see? A womanly figure as the stem of a flower? Step back, and do you notice the vague shape of a uterus and fallopian tubes? Certainly, it’s both feminine and clever, but it’s much more than that, too.
            The woman is self-explanatory, but what of the flower? The flower featured in the logo is an iris. The iris grows, is cultivated, and is renowned for its beauty and greatly varied colors all over the world. Symbolism of the iris includes references to wisdom, faith, hope, friendship, valor, passion, royalty, trust, purity, courage, and admiration. Whew!
            Additionally, this ancient plant has a rich historical background. According to Greek mythology, Iris was the messenger goddess of the rainbow (in Greek, “iris” means rainbow). She traveled between the lands of gods and humans to deliver the messages of the gods. Since the rainbow’s arc in Greece could be seen from the clouds to the sea, she was also believed to supply the clouds with water to replenish the Earth.
            The iris is symbolized in the fleur-de-lis of France, where it has been used since the 12th century, became synonymous with the French Monarchy, and is the national symbol of France. Fleur-de-lis literally means “lily flower,” but the iris was known as a lily until the 19th century and the emblem is, in fact, an iris. The fleur-de-lis is seen extensively in the artwork of France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, and America.
            Most likely originating in Africa, the flower was a symbol of power in ancient Egypt and was placed on the scepters of rulers and on the Sphinx. The three petals represented faith, courage, and wisdom. In China, the iris is seen as a dancing spirit similar to a butterfly. In Sri Lanka, it is noted for its elegant beauty and represents faith, hope, and wisdom. In Japan, the iris is an expression of heroic deeds. The Israelites used it as a source of perfume and a symbol of purity.
            The iris has religious meaning as well. Medieval paintings are rich with the symbolism of the iris. In Christianity, the iris, along with the lily (often used interchangeably with the iris), symbolizes the Virgin Mary. The three petals can also be seen as the sign of the trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), as well as symbolizing faith, hope, and charity. In Hebrew, Iris is a commonly used girl’s name and refers to purity. Some references indicate that the Muslims brought the iris to Spain in the 8th century.
The fleur-de-lis or the iris is used as an emblem, in the coat-of-arms, or in the flag of regions in France, Italy, Spain, England, Scotland, Belgium, the Ukraine, Bosnia, Jordan, and Croatia. In Canada, it is on the coat of arms or local symbols for the provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Here in the U.S., the fleur-de-lis is in the flag or seal of the cities of St. Louis, Louisville, Detroit, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge and the states of Louisiana and Missouri. The iris is the state flower of Tennessee. Additionally, the fleur-de-lis is used on symbols for sports teams (i.e., New Orleans Saints), fraternities and sororities (i.e., Kappa Kappa Gamma), universities (i.e.,Washington University in Missouri), cars (i.e. Chevy Corvette), and even in the US military (i.e., 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team). It is used as the World Scout emblem, as well as by mariners in the compass rose, where it points north. 
            Clearly, the iris has universal appeal and as such helps bring us all together. It has wonderful symbolic meaning, and for some it has religious, ethnic, regional, or even specific organization or club significance. So, next time you notice the WBWC logo, think not only of your experiences at the birth center and the wonderful midwives and staff that help you, but also of the deeper and more individual meaning that the iris symbol may have for you.