The red, red rose, has been in our history for centuries. Their story has crossed continents, cultures, time and space and still continues to surprise and delight us along the way. Whether it is a dozen roses or artfully created in a mixed arrangement, the red rose has it’s own magical story that stands the test of time.
Origins of this flower can be traced back 5,000 years ago in Asia, where it was grown. As the Romans conquered across Asia, they brought this flower back and it was used in perfume, decor and medicine. It was then used in festivals such as Rosalia, or the festival of roses which was celebrated on various dates throughout the year, primarily in May but scattered throughout July as well. Do you think Julius Caesar not only picked a month but wanted a festival of roses in his month too?
Travel forward to the Victorian era, floral bouquets were used to deliver secret messages between people. Imagine sitting in your sitting parlor, reading a book, waiting for people to make calls on your home and there is a knock on the door. The butler opens the door, and brings the wrapped rose posie on a silver tray with a note. Just a love poem or clue but no message from who it is from. Floriography, the term used for this practice, was the start of where we now see the traditional act of flowers and messages being passed between each other.
Roses have a powerful symbolism behind them that represent ideas of romance, passion, beauty and love. This is why it’s used for anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, weddings and even to convey “I’m sorry” to a loved one. We may not understand exactly what the meaning is behind every flower but on a subconscious level, we know that sending roses are seen as a way to celebrate, share or say sorry.
The red rose stands for passion, which is why we use it so much in our Valentine’s Day arrangements. However we are seeing more pinks used which represent appreciation and grace. Valentine’s Day is no longer just a day that couples have to themselves. We see fathers send flowers to their daughters to show that they appreciate and love them. We are now seeing parents looking to teach their sons about being courteous and being a gentleman and having their sons give flowers to their sisters, teachers, coaches and more. Women have been celebrating Galentine’s Day and doing activities together, such as brunch, candle pouring, flower arrangement classes or even just sending flowers to their gal pal letting them know how much they love and appreciate them.
Valentine’s Day is for everyone. The flowers we send all have meaning and our arrangements are created using these meanings. No matter the message you want to convey, flowers are always a good way to send it.
