The word calla is derived from the Greek word kallos, meaning "beauty.” These elegant flowers have an interesting mythological history. Calla lilies are said to have originated from the ancient goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus. In the story, Zeus brought Hercules to nurse from his wife while she was sleeping. He wanted his son to have the strength of the gods. Hera awoke and pushed the baby away from her. Drops of milk flew across the sky, creating the Milky Way, and everywhere they landed on earth, calla lilies bloomed.

More personally, calla lilies have a special meaning for me because they are my mother’s favorite flower. You can find calla lilies portrayed in many works of Mexican art from painters such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, where they represent the abundance of life and death in Mexico.