The Meaning of Roses (Editorial Report)

Ever since the Victorian era in the UK, flowers have been steeped in symbolism and have been a tool used by lords and ladies to display and declare feelings – though the symbolism of flowers was first used in Persia and the Middle East. It was during the Victorian Era that official publications of flower dictionaries were wildly available, resulting in a tradition that spread throughout England. It soon became popular to use flowers to send secretive messages, due to the open expression of such topics being frowned upon. Even though flowers were often used to send affection and fond interest, they were also used to express negative messages and show deep sorrow. Here, I will be focusing in on the various meanings of the rose.

Historically, the white rose was associated with birth as it symbolised innocence and purity. This also resulted in the white rose being associated with weddings and bridal bouquets. This meaning originated from the West where the white rose was a sign of the virgin; it was, for instance, mentioned in a Christian legend when a bush of red roses turned white after the Virgin Mary had hung her coat to dry on it. This led to the white rose standing for chastity, perfection and reverence. Today, the white rose has retained its associations with both pure love and formal ceremony, making it a many-purposed recognition of unions and ceremonial occasions, such as anniversaries, graduations and weddings.

Red roses represent unconditional love and are most commonly used to say "I love you”. They also stand for courage and respect and express deep passions of love. The red rose began its history in Greek and Roman murals, where it was tied to Venus, the goddess of love. The classic red rose is often chosen by the sender, men and woman alike, to express their deepest feelings for someone.

In England, the red rose has been the national flower ever since the Civil War in the fifteenth century as the red rose represented the House of Lancaster. The red rose symbolism was then dramatised by Shakespeare in his play, Richard III, which gave the red rose a reputation that has carried on until modern days.

In the legends surrounding the Prophet Mohammed, yellow roses represent jealousy and infidelity. They may also evoke the end of love. According to the legend, the Prophet Mohammed, while away at war, was confronted by the idea that his wife, Aisha, was being unfaithful. He asked the archangel Gabriel for help and Gabriel suggested that when he returned home, Mohammed should ask his wife to drop whatever she was carrying into the water as a test. If she was faithful, the object would remain the same colour and prove her unconditional love. When Mohammed finally returned from battle, Aisha rushed to greet him, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses. She was surprised when he commanded her to drop them into the river, but obeyed and the roses turned saffron yellow. Eventually, Mohammed forgave his wife but, for some, the yellow rose remained a symbol of infidelity. In recent times, yellow roses have been associated with friendship, but this newer meaning was probably an invention by rose producers to promote this optimistic hue and general association with good cheer. Yellow roses are the perfect way to toast friends, lift spirits and send a general wish for well-being. However, no underlying legend or tale seems to support this symbol. This may be because the colour yellow has been long associated with the sun and its life-giving warmth. Yellow is also the age-old spokes-colour for warm feelings of friendship and optimism. In many Eastern cultures, the colour represents joy, wisdom and power. But while any yellow flower will send a lighthearted message, the history of the yellow rose in particular has an optimistic, serendipitous character that really makes it the complete package.

The yellow rose was discovered growing wild in the Middle East, and the European love affair with yellow roses was born. The early yellow rose lacked the sweet scent for which the rose is famous; however, as cultivation methods were developed and refined, the beloved rose scent was soon introduced and the yellow rose achieved all its optimistic and aromatic glory.

Pink roses symbolise grace, sophistication and elegance. They are expressions of platonic love and friendship. The pink rose is often given as an expression of beginning love or admiration, as it has a gentler meaning than their red counterparts. More recent historical evidence shows pink roses were grown in China’s Imperial rose gardens about 5,000 years ago and have continued to play a part in history ever since. Horticulturally speaking, pink roses are a classic. They were the first colour rose cultivated, since pink roses are most common in the wild. During the Victorian era, the pink rose was used to decorate everything from wallpaper to greeting cards. Today, the pink rose has been cultivated in more contemporary treatments showing off its different shades of pink.

All in all, flowers, and specifically the rose, have been steeped with symbolism ever since the 17th century and have been used by people, men and women alike, to show affection, fondness and gratitude. As there are many types and colours of flowers to choose from, flowers are perfect for sending messages to the one you love.

Bibliography:

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ProFlowers. (2014). Rose Colors & Meanings. Available: http://www.proflowers.com/blog/rose-colors-and-meanings. Last accessed Dec 2016.

ProFlowers. (2014). History and Meaning of White Roses. Available: http://www.proflowers.com/blog/history-and-meaning-of-white-roses. Last accessed Dec 2016.

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ProFlowers. (2016). History and Meaning of Pink Roses. Available: http://www.proflowers.com/blog/history-and-meaning-of-pink-roses?. Last accessed Dec 2016

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Catherine Marien. (). Language of Roses and Rose Symbolism. Available: http://www.lillysrosegarden.com/rose-colors-symbolism.html. Last accessed Dec 2016.

A Very British Romance with Lucy Worsley, 03:00 16/10/2015, BBC4, 60 mins. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand/index.php/prog/0B1870D2 (Accessed Dec 2016)

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