The Meaning of Daffodils

By Abbie Frankel, Georgia College '22

Daffodils are rarely associated with pain or a negative history. They serve as a symbol of beauty; a simple reminder of the innocence of spring and new life. For Jews, however, the yellow color and the shape of the flower are reminiscent of the stars that Jewish people were forced to wear during the Holocaust. With this in mind, the Daffodil Project aims to plant 1.5 million daffodils worldwide to remember the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust. This project is especially meaningful for me because of my honorary grandpa. Although he was not related to me by blood, Grandpa provided me with the love and wisdom that some could only wish for. I feel very fortunate for Grandpa for a multitude of reasons, but especially because he was one of the lucky children that survived the terrors of the Holocaust. His siblings, on the other hand, were not as lucky. Grandpa radiated sunshine until the minute that he passed, and his legacy is bright as ever.

To carry on his legacy and honor his siblings and all of the children who perished in the Holocaust, I am proud that my college participated in the Daffodil Project. We planted 1,000 daffodils in front of the old courthouse and we planted some around the Hillel house as well. Not only will these yellow daffodils help make our campus even more beautiful, but they will serve as an educational tool to inform current and future generations of students, faculty, and staff at Georgia College about the horrific events of the Holocaust.