Metaphorical ‘Flowers’ as a Symbol of Respect in Sports

  • Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles paid tribute to Rebeca Andrade by bowing towards her during the Olympic podium ceremony
  • The phrase ‘give them their flowers’ has roots in Black traditions and church language
  • The idea of giving ‘flowers’ to living people gained popularity in Victorian era funeral processions
  • The saying has evolved into a metaphor for recognition and appreciation

During the artistic gymnastics competition at the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles paid tribute to Rebeca Andrade by bowing towards her during the podium ceremony. This act represents the growing trend of ‘giving flowers’ to living individuals as a symbol of respect and appreciation. The phrase originated from Black traditions and church language, with roots in Victorian era funeral processions. It has evolved into a metaphor for accolades and recognition. The more recent version of the saying, ‘give someone their flowers’, allows for figurative ‘flowers’ to be bestowed as appreciation.

Factuality Level: 7
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the origin and history of the phrase ‘give them their flowers’ and its usage in Black culture and how it was used by Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles on the podium. It also includes relevant background information about the phrase’s evolution over time, including examples from music and sports. However, it lacks direct quotes or sources for some of the historical context and could have been more concise.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article is mostly focused on the origin and history of the phrase ‘give me my flowers’ and its usage in Black culture, rather than providing any significant analysis or discussion about the gymnastics competition itself. It does not delve into the athletes’ performances or their achievements, nor does it explore the broader implications of this moment in sports history. While it is an interesting cultural observation, it lacks direct relevance to the main event and may be more suited for a separate article on language and cultural traditions.
Key People: Simone Biles (Olympic gymnast), Jordan Chiles (Olympic gymnast), Rebeca Andrade (Olympic gymnast), W.C. Handy (Composer)

Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the symbolic gesture of giving ‘flowers’ to athletes and does not mention any impact on financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no mention of any extreme event in the last 48 hours in this article. It discusses the usage and history of the phrase ‘give them their flowers’ and its connection to recognizing people while they are still alive, focusing on cultural and social issues.
Move Size: No market move size mentioned.
Sector: No
Direction: Neutral
Magnitude: Small
Affected Instruments: No

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com