How A Flower Became the Symbol of Love?
It's hard to imagine a time when flowers weren't associated with love and romance. After all, what says "I love you" better than a dozen red roses? Flowers, especially red roses, symbolise love and appreciation dating back to the Victorian era.
But believe it or not, there was a time when roses or any other flower were not seen as romantic. Red roses didn't become the symbol of love out of the blue. It was a long and gradual process that took centuries. So how did it happen?
Well, there are quite a few interesting stories behind it. It all started with the ancient Greeks and Romans, who associated flowers with goddesses of love and fertility. Let's have a look at different mythologies.
Aphrodite & Greek Mythology
The most well-known story involves Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. It is said that when her lover Adonis died, The story goes that Aphrodite was running after the body of her lover when she cut herself and her blood turned a white rose into a red one. From then on, the rose became a symbol of love and appreciation.
Venus & Roman Mythology
According to a myth, Venus was adored by both Mars, the god of battle, and Adonis, the god of beauty and desire. Mars planned on killing Adonis which Venus learned of and hastened to warn Adonis. She slipped on a rose bed in her rush and scraped her foot. Everywhere her foot touched the ground while she was running, a garden of red roses instantly appeared.
In accordance with another myth, the bee sting that Cupid, the son of Venus, received led to his accidentally shooting his arrows into a rose garden. The roses developed thorns as a result. Later, while Venus was strolling around the garden, she wounded her foot on a thorn and spilt blood all over the roses, turning them red.
White and red roses were strongly associated with Venus, therefore these lovely flowers swiftly became a representation of love.
The Victorian Era & The Language of Flowers
It was during the Victorian era that the language of flowers really came into its own. This was a time when people communicated through flowers more than ever before.
Different flowers were assigned different meanings, and people would use them to send secret messages to each other. For example, a red rose meant "I love you," while a white rose meant "I'm sorry."
The Victorians were very fond of assigning meanings to different flowers, and the rose was no exception. In addition to love and appreciation, roses symbolise beauty, purity, and grace.
During the Victorian era, the red rose became the ultimate symbol of love. And it has been associated with romance ever since.
Christianity & Roses
The rose has long been a symbol of purity and faith in the Christian religion, often associated with the Virgin Mary. The word "rosary" is even derived from the Latin word for rose, meaning that garlands of roses have come to symbolise these important prayer beads.
Roses have popped up at various times in Christian artwork and iconography. One of the most famous examples is the rose window at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. This beautiful stained glass window dates back to the 13th century and is decorated with hundreds of red roses.
The rose has also been adopted as a symbol by various Christian denominations, such as the Order of the Garter (an organisation of knights founded by Edward III in 1348) and the Order of the Thistle (a Scottish chivalric order founded by James VII in 1687).
The symbolism of the rose doesn't end there. In many Christian countries, the rose is also used as a symbol of the blood of Christ. This is because the red petals are thought to resemble drops of blood.
So the next time you see a rose, don't just think of it as a pretty flower. Think of it as a symbol of love, faith, and purity that people have cherished for centuries.
Red Roses in the Modern World
Parables involving roses are popular in Shakespeare's oeuvre as the flower has come to symbolise romantic beauty. In fact, he even went so far as to say that, of all flowers, roses were his favourite: "Of all flowers, I think rose is best."
Roses are often seen as a symbol of love, passion, and beauty. Giving someone roses is the most romantic gesture one could make. The rose has been a symbol of love, appreciation, and beauty throughout history. Roses have been mentioned in ancient Greek and Roman texts, as well as in mediaeval literature.
In the modern world, roses are still seen as a symbol of love and appreciation. So the next time you're looking for a way to show someone how much you care, don't forget the power of a single red rose.
Flowers have been associated with love and romance for centuries. What started as a simple gesture of friendship gradually morphed into something much more over the course of several hundred years. Today, flowers are a popular way to express feelings for another person. Whether giving a bouquet of roses on Valentine's Day or sending a loved one a "thinking of you" card, flowers are sure to put a smile on their face.
Contact Guernsey Flowers For All Your Rose Arrangement Needs!
Guernsey Flowers is a local UK florist that specialises in creating beautiful rose arrangements. We have many roses to choose from, so you're sure to find the perfect bunch for your loved one.
Whether you are looking for red roses with foliage, beautiful pink roses, or mixed coloured rose bouquets we have the perfect arrangement for you. Order flowers online from Guernsey Flowers, and we'll deliver them to your loved one's door.
