With the first of February hastily on the way, and Valentine’s Day not far behind it, one color that we tend to see the most, no matter where we go, is red. Two of the most common objects adored in the base color, with pictures displayed throughout advertisements and marketing, are hearts and roses. While many other flowers can have meanings that indicate romantic feelings, roses are more of a direct signal and little confusion is had when a dozen show up at your door, or you send them to your special someone.
Have you ever thought why that seems to be an accepted standard? What does the rose itself symbolize? And what of its many colors, including the rouge tinted imagery many are most familiar with?
Let’s start with the plant itself. How did it come to be so associated with romantic feelings? There are several histories that point to different explanations for that. In ancient Greece, the flower is linked to a few of the pantheon’s gods and goddesses, most notably Aphrodite.
One story demonstrating this connection comes from the epic poem “The Iliad,” in which, using the “immortal oil of the rose,” the love goddess shielded the archaic lyric poet Hector, who in turn would speak warmly of the meeting. Judaism and Christianity also revere the flower bud as a particular symbol for divine mercy, attributing it to the Virgin Mary and later to the creation of the rosary.
In later history, England would make the rose the city’s national flower. While a grand gesture, the usage dates back to English civil wars from the fifteenth century, later dubbed the War of the Roses. The flower was used as a symbol by the two sides, with two associated colors; the House of Lancaster took the red rose for its banners and arms, while the House of York displayed images of the white rose.
While the white variant isn’t as used in the English territories, both the England National Rugby Union Team, and the Rugby Football Union by connection, use the red rose to adorn their rugby kits, the uniform used in the sport. The red rose is also a symbol for the UK Labour Party.
Now that we’ve looked at the rose, and a few origins to the associations with it, next are the colors the flower is cultivated into displaying. While red roses hold a majority of the iconography the plant is displayed with, that isn’t the only color that can be found. Along with red, roses are also bred to display the aforementioned white hue, along with ivory, yellow, orange, green, blue, lavender, peach, black, blended rainbow, and, as another color seen with the flower bud, pink.
With each color, a different set of meanings are linked with their presentation and offering as a gift. White roses, for instance, symbolize purity, youthfulness and innocence. Young love, linked with eternal loyalty and new beginnings, make the flower an important addition to weddings and romantic occasions. Whether surrounded by clusters of them on your wedding day or being used as a gift for an anniversary date, white roses are brought out to remind significant others that time may pass, but the feelings remain fresh.
Ivory roses, while close to their white counterparts, bring different imaginings to the mind in the flower language. The blossoms on the plant tend to be linked to symbols of thoughtfulness, gracefulness, and charm. This rose variant also communicates a level of richness and perfection, displaying a gift-giver’s care without giving off the same level of romantic feelings as white ones.
Orange and yellow roses are also variants that buck some of the love angle when given as gifts. Orange roses, for example, are meant to represent fascination, enthusiasm, desire, and energy. The color variants push to symbolize grand accomplishments and excitement, which provides multiple opportunities for gift giving bouquets, whether as a gesture after a graduation or just as a reminder and motivator to the person they are intended for.
Roses with yellow petals give off similar traits. Symbolizing friendship and joy, the flower variant is meant to give off feelings associated with warmth, delight, caring and affection. While there was a time during the Victorian era the flower also communicated jealousy, that is no longer the case. In modern times, yellow roses represent more cheerful and positive concepts.
Closest to the previous color types, green roses are meant to bring to mind thoughts of life, growth and abundance. Whether using the plant as a symbol for renewal, rejuvenation or fertility, giving roses with a green tint is to also wish the recipient balance in their lives as things tend to change, such as the start of a new life with a partner or an upcoming due date for an expectant mother.
Not to be too separate from their brightly colored counterparts, blue and black roses, even with a stark difference in hues, can give comfort and affection in their own meaningful language. Blue roses are poised to be the most mysterious of the pack. Not only bringing an air of the unknown, these variants symbolize what is impossible and unattainable. Giving the visually striking plant is meant to encourage recipients to dream big, reach deep into uncharted territory and dispel fear and anxiety.
Black roses are among the most broadly interpreted of the color spectrum. A common place to see the flower is at funerals, signifying death and mourning for the dearly departed. However, the flower also has positive meanings, as well. Major changes in one’s life and fresh beginnings are also marked by the plant, and with it an offer of courage, confidence and hope while marching towards new destinations. The flowers, in turn, also give their addition to weddings a sort of boldness and mystery, but without any less a level of positive notion than that of the white rose.
Finally, let’s look at the more rouge variations of the plant. Ranging from peach to lavender, pink and then red, each holds different yet similar meanings when given out.
Roses of the peach variety tend to give off an air of strength in their meaning. Presenting peach roses conveys sincerity, genuineness, modesty and gratitude, making it the perfect “thank you” bouquet addition. Whether presenting them after a business deal is struck, or to communicate sympathy to a loved one, the plant is meant to strike at down-to-earth notions and feelings with the gesture.
With lavender roses, the imagination is the intended target. Representing wonder, enchantment, splendor and mystery, like the blue variants, the language of the color invokes inspiration. Alternatively, lavender variants are also meant to be an attention-grabber, as if to signify for the recipient that they have caught your eye and you want to catch theirs in kind.
Pink roses are a bit more subdued in meaning, but where lavender hues mean to strike instant attention, pink variants are more refined. Roses of the pink variety symbolize elegance, sweetness and femininity. There are also variants of this particular hue that change the meanings up a bit. Deeper tinted or hot pink roses convey appreciation, gratitude and recognition, while lighter pink versions are associated with grace, gentleness, joy and happiness.
And now, back where we first started, there is the red rose. As with Aphrodite’s gift to Hector, love is the most associated feeling with the original flower color. Bringing feelings of passion, desire and romance to the forefront, there is no mystery as to why the rose is linked with holidays like Valentine’s Day, or any special occasion where the concept of love lies at the center of such meetings. Giving a bouquet of this flower is an instant way to, at some level, display a bit of love for the person receiving them.
So, this Valentine’s Day, with a colorful variety to choose from, you can find a way to convey your thoughts in a meaningful and impactful way. In your efforts to connect with another, what are the things that you want to say to them in the language of flowers?