Napkins Claveles

In 1526, Emperor Charles V and Empress Isabella of Portugal were married in Seville.

They went to Granada, to the Alhambra, to enjoy each other’s company, away from all the problems of the empire and its government.

One of the gifts the bride and groom received was a small bag of flower seeds, a present from the ambassador of the Persian caliph. They were carnation seeds.

The emperor ordered these seeds to be planted in the gardens of the Alhambra as a symbol of their love.

From then on, they spread throughout Andalusia and Spain, becoming the iconic flower of our culture: who can imagine a woman dressed as a flamenco dancer without her carnation in her hair! And those patios or terraces without their carnation plant! In songs, in poetry, in the streets, in the houses, carnations are part of our idiosyncrasy as Spaniards.