Laurel leaves were seen as a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Greek culture. In ancient Greek competitions, the victor was given a laurel headband, and warriors wore laurel when they triumphed from the battlefield, showing that they had been cleansed of blood. In addition, poets who sang paeans to the victors wore laurel crowns, thus giving rise to the image of the "laurel-crowned poet". In Chinese culture, the laurel is seen as a symbol of good luck and achievement, and is often used as a gift of celebration and blessing.

The olive leaf symbolizes peace and health. In the mythology of the city of Athens, Athena brought green olives to mankind, and thus the olive was used as a holy symbol of Athena. In the ancient Olympic Games of the 7th century B.C., winners were crowned with olive leaves. In the Sophocles play, the olive leaf represents peace, virtue, and purity.

These leaves have been imbued with specific symbolic meanings in cultures, reflecting the depth of human emotion towards nature and mythology.