For thousands of years the Lily has been a beautiful symbol of motherhood. The flower is often associated with the Virgin Mary. In addition, the Lily has held sacred meaning for many cultures throughout time. The Ancient Romans believed that the first Lily grew from the nursemilk of the the goddess Juno as she fed her infant son, Hercules. While in Anglo-Saxon folklore, if an expectant mother were offered both a Rose and a Lily, and she chose the Lily, her child would be a boy.