More roses are sold in the few days before St. Valentine’s Day than in any other similar timespan in the year. Until not so long ago, people were mindful of the significance of the colours of roses (I am pretty sure that it did not concern other flowers too).
For instance, it would have been a serious faux pas to give a young teenage girl a red rose, but not a pink or a yellow one. All the colours had a meaning. However, it is a bit like reading Tarot cards, not everyone agrees on those significances.
Anyhow, out of interest and to keep the tradition going, I will give you the generally accepted significance of the colours of roses below.
‘My love is like a red, red rose’, so goes the poem and when most people think of a rose, the first colour that probably comes to mind is red and, in fact, the word ?rose? comes from the Latin word ?rosa?, which means red.
It is also true that red roses are the most common and the most bought colour, but there are so many other colours that there is an entire lexicon of significance that can be said with them.
Here are some colours and their meaning:
Red – Love, romance, beauty, obsession, yearning and respect
Burgundy – Unwitting loveliness
Red but withered – Our love is over
White – Purity, youth, pure love and virginal innocence
Pink – Happiness, appreciation, thankfulness and charm
Dark Pink – Gratitude or thank you
Yellow – Happiness, gladness, companionship, pleasure or platonic love
Yellow with Red Tip – Falling in Love
Orange – Fascination, desire, or enthusiasm
Red and White – (a bouquet of roses of two colours) – Passionate wholesomeness or unity
Peach – Sincerity, gratitude, appreciation, modesty, admiration, or sympathy
Lavender – Love at first sight or enchantment
Black – Death or our love is over
Blue – Unfeasible, unattainable or secrecy
Red Rosebud – Symbol of wholesomeness and beauty
White Rosebud – Girlhood or youth
Thornless Rose – “Love at First Sight”
Single Rose – Straightforwardness
Two Roses – An engagement or impending marriage
Rose Leaves – Symbol of hope
Roses – Sent every month – beauty ever renewed
Regrettably, there no true black or blue roses in nature, as the pigment structures in the rose do not permit these colours to be developed, although it has not prevented gardeners trying for hundreds of years. However, there are some very dark purple roses, which are used in place of black roses. There are also some very pale lavender roses that seem to be blue, but have a shade of pink in them. Traditionally, blue roses are usually white roses dyed.
No matter what you want to express with your flowers, a bouquet of roses can articulate your emotions. So next time you give a bouquet of roses, why not try to express what you want to say by selecting the colours with care. The recipient probably will not understand these day, but you could send them a copy of this article or have fun explaining the meaning to them over a bottle of wine.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with valentines Day Gift Baskets. If you have an interest in romantic gifts, please go over to our website now at Romantic Gifts Ideas
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