Roses speak to our hearts, as shown by the long history of love associated with them. The red rose stands for passion, love and romance. That must be why it’s the most popular flower for gifting on Valentine’s Day. What you may not know is that the connection between roses and love dates to ancient times. This connection has strengthened over the centuries through the flower’s depiction in art and literature.
Greek & Roman Mythology
It isn’t possible to know exactly when roses became a popular flower. However, some of the earliest references to roses being a flower of love come from Greek and Roman mythology. In Ancient Greece, red roses were often associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and sexuality. According to mythology, Aphrodite’s beauty was so great that roses sprang up wherever she walked. The association of roses and the goddess of love then transferred to Roman mythology and Aphrodite’s counterpart in the Roman pantheon, Venus. It was in Ancient Rome that St. Valentine’s Day originated, as a celebration of the Roman god of fertility, Cupid. It was believed that Cupid had the power to bring love and happiness to people’s lives.
Poetry & Literature
Roses make frequent appearances in poetry and literature, reinforcing the connection between this beautiful flower and love. In literature and art of the Middle Ages, red roses were often used to represent the intensity of love and the depth of emotion felt by lovers. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Valentine’s Day became more commercialised as merchants and traders began selling cards, flowers, and other gifts to celebrate the holiday. The red rose became particularly popular as a symbol of love and passion. Shakespeare illustrated an analogy with it in the romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, when his star-crossed heroine agonizes over the misfortune of her beloved belonging to her family’s rival house: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Scottish poet Robert Burns directly compares his sweetheart to the bloom, declaring, “O my Luve’s like a red, red rose / That’s newly sprung in June.”
Victorian Language of Flowers
It was during Victorian times that the traditional meanings of many flowers were codified into floriography, the language of flowers. This era was known for its strict social rules and emphasis on etiquette. Friends and lovers used the meanings they assigned to flowers to send bouquets full of hidden messages. For example, yellow roses symbolized friendship and joy, purple roses indicated fascination or adoration, white roses represented purity and innocence, pink roses conveyed tenderness and appreciation, and red roses symbolised romantic love.
A Modern Take for Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day, the meanings of passion, love and beauty have carried through the millennia with the rose continuing to be the flower of choice on this special day. Now days, people don’t just shop for a beautiful bouquet of red roses, they are looking for other ways to interpret this symbolic expression of love. That’s probably why our lovingly brewed Heritage Blush Rose is so popular at this time of year – whether you’re gifting to a loved one, family, a friend or just because you deserve a little something special.
Our Heritage Blush Rose is bursting with the subtle and naturally sweet taste of fragrant Organic rose buds, combined harmoniously with a hint of fresh Organic raspberry. What better way can there be to share the love?!