Lilacs are purple flowers that are associated with the Language of Flowers. This flower is a symbol of the emotions of early love.

The color lilac used to be associated with mourning. Black was worn or used to symbolize a recent death in some European and North American cultures. But after a year of mourning, key mourners, such as the widow, could switch to lilac for clothing, the border on stationary, etc. This is mostly an older use, such as in the late 1800s.

Like other variations of purple, lilac is also associated with spirituality.