Have you ever noticed some girls pin a flower behind their ear? Especially the left one. It just looks like a pretty little accessory, right? But did you know? In some places, this little gesture isn’t just for looks—it might be quietly telling you: “I already have a boyfriend!”
So, is this really true or just a myth?
The Old Rule: Left Ear = “Taken”.
The story begins in Hawaii. In Hawaiian and some Polynesian cultures, this practice holds deep significance. They have a very clear “language of flowers code”:
- Flower in the left ear: Signifies “I’m already taken,” meaning married or in a committed relationship.
- Flower in the right ear: Represents the complete opposite— “I’m single and open to romance!”
Why? Simple—the heart is on the left! Wearing a flower near the heart signifies it’s already “taken.” It’s a romantic and direct way to express feelings.
The World’s So Big, Rules Vary!
But wait! If you think this rule applies everywhere, you’d be dead wrong. The world is vast, and every place has its own ideas.
- In Southeast Asia, like the Philippines or Indonesia, girls also love wearing flowers. However, they wear them more for beauty or to celebrate festivals, with little connection to having a boyfriend. Which ear the flower adorns often depends on comfort or aesthetics, not on sending any “romantic signals.” In some parts of India, the type of flower matters more—like the pure jasmine, whose fragrance and symbolism outweigh considerations of which ear it graces.
- In major Western cities, the situation is quite different. For most modern people, wearing a flower behind the ear is purely a fashion accessory. Just like wearing earrings or applying lipstick, it’s about looking more beautiful and expressing individuality. If you see a girl in London or New York with a flower in her left ear and assume she’s married, you’re way off! She might just think today’s flower matches her dress perfectly.
So you see, the same gesture can carry vastly different meanings in different places. It’s like dialects—a single word can mean completely different things depending on where you are.
Can We Still Trust This “Signal”?
So the question arises: If we see a girl wearing a flower in her left ear, can we really tell if she’s single?
The answer is: It depends!
- When it’s reliable: If she’s attending a traditional hula dance in Hawaii or on an island where this custom is deeply rooted, that flower in her left ear is likely a genuine signal about her relationship status. In this case, the signal is trustworthy.
- When to avoid assumptions: If she’s simply on a regular street, in a café, or at a music festival, that flower is most likely just an accessory. Don’t overthink it and strike up a conversation with “I know you have a boyfriend”—what if she’s actually single? You’d miss out on a great opportunity! Even worse, what if she doesn’t even know about this custom?
Sigh, sometimes I wish the world came with a universal instruction manual! Then we wouldn’t have to guess.
To sum up.
In Hawaiian tradition, wearing a flower in the left ear does indeed signify “I’m taken.” It’s a beautiful, ancient custom. But in today’s globalized world, it’s no longer a universal truth.
So next time you see this gesture, don’t jump to conclusions. First, consider where she is and the atmosphere around her. Maybe she simply thinks the flower looks just right on her left ear.
