Top 15 Symbols of Youth and Their Meanings

Being young is a fascinating time in a person’s life. As a child or teenager, you are still growing as an individual and learning from life’s experiences. You are still in the process of transforming into a young adult. You are impulsive, reckless and want to live life to the fullest.

You want to take risks and be wild, and you can manage to do so as you don’t have responsibility tying you down. As a young person, you have a limited obligation. All you have to worry about is finishing your chores or doing your homework. You don’t have to pay bills or pay the mortgage. You don’t have to worry about your career or making money. 

Young people feel like they have the world at their fingertips. The world is full of endless possibilities. You can dream about what you want to do in life and where you want to go. You don’t have to worry about picking the right career or about job security. As a child, you don’t worry about appearances or worldly possessions. You can wear an old T-shirt and shorts and feel great. As an adult, you have to be well dressed and look presentable. You have to act responsibly according to society’s rules. 

When one is youthful, one is free! As an individual grows, older society starts molding that person into what is desirable. Being young is one of the best times of a person’s life. This is when people get to make their fondest memories.

Let’s look at the top 15 symbols of youth and their significance:

1. Butterflies

Butterflies are an apt symbol that indicates youthfulness. Butterflies undergo metamorphosis or change. From a mundane caterpillar, they transform into magnificent butterflies. This is similar to the transformation from childhood to adulthood. [1]

The shift from childhood to adulthood is both physical and emotional. Physically, a person’s body changes; they become more aware of themselves and their sexuality. Emotionally, individuals become more mature and wise.

Caterpillars are ordinary creatures that are not very physically appealing. A caterpillar’s transition to a butterfly shows one of the most delicate transitions. Butterflies are beautiful creatures that are unique and have the freedom to fly. Other than indicating youth and transformation, Butterflies also symbolize change, hope, and life. [2]

2. Eagles

Young people are a lot like eagles. Eagles are free birds that can do anything they wish in life. They can fly and go wherever they want; they are not bound by anything or anyone. This is very similar to young people. Family or mortgages do not bind young people.

They have the freedom to go anywhere they want and to travel freely. Also, eagles need to learn how to fly to survive. If they don’t, they will be at the mercy of predators. This is similar to when young people come of age. 

They need to grow up and become more aware of the world around them. They need to be mindful of their bodies and the world around them. They need to be confident and recognize their potential.

And if they don’t, they, too, can be at the mercy of predators (people with ill intentions) who will try to take advantage of them. Like eagles, young people also have to leave their parent’s homes and make a life for themselves.

3. Stars

Usually, Stars are linked to magic. But they can also represent the passion and yearning young people possess to become famous or to feel important. In Australia, the Star motif is a vital sign of youth.

Many young people have star-shaped tattoos in an attempt to copy famous personalities such as Rihanna or Nicole Richie. The tattoo implies adoring the ‘dark culture’ and becoming famous. [3]

4. Circles

Circles can also represent youthfulness because young people are always looking for something to belong to. They can belong to a particular community or to a tribe, which is represented in the form of a circle. In today’s world, almost everyone is present on social media.

There are different spheres of society on social media platforms, and belonging to a particular sphere is essential for young people. This can also apply to groups of cliques at school. Belonging to a certain group or circle can make a young person feel included. Therefore circles can be great symbols of representing the youth.

5. Flowers

Flowers can represent young people because when flowers are freshly plucked (or young), they are fresh and look their finest. This is similar to young people. When a person is young, their body is at its prime. They are youthful, attractive, and full of life’s vigor.

As flowers grow old, they wither and eventually die out. This is similar to how people age. Therefore flowers can symbolize the entirety of our lives. During Victorian times, flowers held implicit solid meaning and were used as a medium of self-expression. Today flowers, in general, represent charm, beauty, and youth. [4][5]

6. The Color White

White color is often linked to innocence and youthfulness. It serves as an active reminder of when life was uncomplicated and straightforward. White color is also often linked to concepts of good and pure. This is one of the reasons why in many cultures, brides are adorned in white on their wedding day.

White connotes the purity and sanctity of the journey of marriage. Often white also implies the completion of a cycle and when your life moves in a new direction. This could be moving to a new house, planning a trip to a foreign country, or embarking upon a new career or relationship. [6]

7. Pink Color

Pink is often the color associated with affection and tenderness. It also connotes youthfulness, good health, and vitality, as well as playfulness. The pink color also nurtures femininity and represents romantic feelings.

There are many shades of pink one can choose from, such as light pink, hot pink, or tea-pink. These shades of pink hint at the innocence of childhood and indulging in carefree laughter and endless play. The pink color is designed to embrace creativity and wonder. It lightens up whatever is drab and boring. [7]

8. Green Color

Green color has different shades, which can represent different concepts and emotions. For example, darker green shades are linked to growth and stability, such as mature green leaves seen in summer. Lighter green shades often indicate freshness, vibrancy, and youthfulness, such as the first few leaves of spring. [8]

The green color is often also linked to positivity due to its association with nature. Green color can positively affect our thinking, relationships and can revive optimism. It also helps relieve stress and can help us heal. [9]

9. Summer

Various attributes are linked to various seasons. Spring represents childhood and birth; summer represents youthfulness, and autumn represents maturity and adulthood.[10] As spring is connected to youthfulness, fun, and a carefree nature, it is one of the top 15 symbols of youth.

When one thinks of summer, feelings of warmth, love, and friendship come to mind. It’s the time when you can live to the fullest, explore, feel joy and make the most of your youth. [11] You can live a carefree life where grief and sorrows are far away. Apart from youthful fun, summer is when relief can be found. In stories and plays, relief comes in summer after a long, difficult winter. 

Summertime is also linked to confidence. Often in stories, the main character is striding confidently in a park or grassland with birds chirping. Summer is also the time to enjoy a romantic fling. Almost all love affairs are set in the summer in movies and plays. Summertime is often also connected to beauty and positivity. The best example of summer is in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, in which he is comparing a girl to a summer’s day and concluding that she is lovelier. 

10. Rose

Cultures and traditions have assigned various meanings to roses. Different colored roses also hold separate meanings. The white rose is mainly associated with purity and innocence. At times, the white rose is also linked to youthfulness and spirituality.

They can represent new beginnings and hope for the future. Multicolored roses or rainbow roses also represent joy, youthfulness, and happiness. Multicolored roses are a great gift to give to a child or if someone has had a new baby. [12]

11. Daisy

Daisy flowers represent purity, innocence, joy, and youthfulness. In the middle ages, young women placed daisies in their hair to symbolize innocence and youthfulness. Different colored daisies also hold different meanings. For example, white-colored daisies imply beauty, while yellow daisies imply loyalty.

Daisies also imply fun, new beginnings, affection, and hope. As Daisies grow on almost every continent except Antarctica, they have actively been utilized in culture mythologies and folk tales. Daisies are also often used to welcome babies into the world because they represent a fresh start, renewal, youth, and sunshine.[13]

12. Dandelion

The Dandelion is a common flower in Europe and Asia. In France, it comes in many different sizes and shapes and is also known as dent de lion or the lion’s tooth. This name refers to the Dandelion’s jagged leaves. [14]

Dandelions symbolize youthfulness, happiness, and joy. They can also imply good health, perseverance, and determination. As dandelions are cheerful and bright flowers, they hold positive connotations. In many different cultures, they are symbols of youth and the bringers of spring. These flowers are connected to positive experiences and freedom. 

13. Primrose

Primroses come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and hues. They usually appear in spring. The name ‘primrose’ derives from the Latin word ‘primus,’ which means early or first. The name is about the primrose’s appearance in early spring.

The primrose is a highly symbolic flower that connotes youthfulness, young love, and grace. Often the primrose is also seen as a symbol of femininity. The petals on the flower can imply the many stages of life, such as birth, consummation, and death. 

14. Hibiscus

Hibiscus flowers are usually found in tropical regions and warm climates. They are colorful and large flowers that often attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Hibiscus comes from the Greek word ‘hibiscus’ that can be translated to ‘marshmallow.’ Hibiscus flowers also symbolize youthfulness, charm, and beauty. However, they are also used to refer to the short span of life.

15. Pirate Symbol

The Pirate symbol is being used actively by Generation Y. The pirate symbol implies a life of adventure, risk-taking, and transgression. Many youngsters are tattooing a pirate motif on their bodies to hint at these attributes. [15]

Summary

The days of one’s youth are some of the best days lived. You make the fondest memories when you are young. You are devoid of responsibility and carefree. These are the days when people make great memories and have the times of their lives with friends.

The youthful period of one’s life is optimistic. But you are naive and reckless and have a lot to learn. Slowly life’s experiences transform you into a mature adult with responsibility and bills to pay. 

Which of these Symbols of Youth were you already aware of? Let us know in the comments below!

References

1. https://symbolismandmetaphor.com/symbolism-of-youth/
2. https://gardenswithwings.com/butterfly-symbolism
3. https://danpankraz.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/the-3-symbols-of-youth-star-circle-and-pirate/
4. https://symbolismandmetaphor.com/symbolism-of-youth/
5. https://www.gardeningchannel.com/flower-meaning-symbolism-and-colors/
6. https://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/color-white.html
7. https://www.sensationalcolor.com/meaning-of-pink/
8. https://www.impactplus.com/blog/the-psychology-of-design-the-color-green
9. https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-green-2795817
10. https://writescape.ca/site/2019/10/seasonal-symbolism/
11. https://penandthepad.com/examples-seasonal-symbolism-22272.html
12. https://www.proflowers.com/blog/rose-color-meanings/
13. https://www.uniguide.com/daisy-flower-meaning-symbolism-aster/
14. https://www.atozflowers.com/flower/taraxacum/
15. https://danpankraz.wordpress.com/2009/05/05/the-3-symbols-of-youth-star-circle-and-pirate/