Love is a Rose! Why Roses Make the Ultimate Valentine’s Day Gifts

It’s the universal truth that roses mean love! The stunning flowers embody the sentiments of passion, romance and affection in their raw essence. From the pages of literary classics to Hollywood blockbusters, popular poets, writers and directors illustrated the romantic significance of the Red Rose through their creative work.

But how did this come about, you are wondering? How did our civilization come to associate roses with the most wonderful feeling in the world?

We are about to take you on a journey through the history of how roses came to be known as the ultimate symbol of enduring and everlasting love.

Written in the Westen Legends

The humble beginnings of the red rose’s association with love take place in ancient Western mythology.

Greek legends tell us that red roses were the culmination of love of the Goddess of love, Aphrodite and Adonis, her mortal lover. Upon his tragic death, his blood mingled with her tears and became the birthplace of red roses. Thus, red roses are thought of as the symbol of love until death, the eternal kind of love.

In Roman Mythology, red and pink roses were associated with wealth, beauty and love. The goddesses and gods admired the tranquil qualities of the rose and filled their bedchambers and bath with the petals and rose blossoms to create a pleasurable experience and setting. 

Finally, early Christians believed that the rose represents the virtue of the Virgin Mary, who is also referred to as “Our Lady of the Roses.” Red blooms are said to have blushed when she kissed them in heaven. 

Sacred in the Eastern Traditions

There are also endless Eastern beliefs that link red roses with love and romance. 

As told by the Hindu legends, Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and prosperity and also the wife of God Vishnu, was created from 108 large and 1,008 small rose petals. Vishnu intensely loved his wife, creating a firm link between roses and romance.

In ancient Arabic tales, roses are literally believed to invoke the feeling of love in our hearts. One story tells that a nightingale fell in love with a white rose and began to sing his bird song. But in his tragic profession of love, the nightingale pressed its body to the rose and a thorn pierced through its heart, coloring the white rose with red. The symbology here shows the intensity of love that is associated with red roses.

Through the Middle Ages

Did you know that roses are England’s national flower? In the 15th century, the War of the Roses occurred in England when the house of Lancaster, represented by a red rose, and the house of York, represented by a white rose, competed with each other to rule England.

William Shakespeare, one of England’s greatest writers, was also inspired by the rose. His play, Romeo and Juliet, contains one of the most popular references of love symbolized by the rose. When Juliet says, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” she’s reminding Romeo that although they come from rival houses, it shouldn’t matter because their love is real.

In the Victorian Era, 1837-1901, gifting flowers as gifts became more ritualistic; In fact, the Victorians practically invented the language of flowers as we know it today. The red rose came to symbolize what it does today – the endurance of romantic love. However, while modern roses have their thorns removed, a thornless rose in Victorian times indicated love at first sight.

Roses in the Modern Times

In our modern age, roses remain the absolute expression of emotions, especially love and romance. And red roses especially are the classic choice for all courtship, dating and affirmations of love.

The ritual of giving roses to those you love and treasure is the ultimate language of expression of how we feel. For example, bright red roses symbolize romance, while burgundy and crimson red roses mean undying love. 

The number of roses given also plays a big role in what message you are trying to deliver. Here are the quantities that are most popular in our time:

1 rose: “Love at first sight”

3 Roses: “I love you”

8 Roses: “Support for your loved on in tough times”

12 Roses: “Be My Valentine!”

15 Roses: “I’m Really Sorry”

21 Roses: “I’m Committed to You”

24 Roses: “Do You Still Love Me?”

40 Roses: “My love is Genuine”

99 Roses: “I’ll Love You Till The Day I Die”

100 Roses: “I’m Totally Devoted to You”

101 Roses: “You’re My One and Only!”

So now you know why roses make the ultimate Valentine’s Day gifts. They are a timeless expression of love, rooted in history, culture and literature. There is simply no other gift that can convey the sentiments of romance as perfectly as roses do. Do you agree?