We all know that red roses are, without a doubt, the ultimate symbol of love. But have you ever wondered why they are given on Valentine's Day? What made them the key symbol of Valentine's? Digging into the significance and symbolism of this holiday can, definitely, open up your heart even more when you learn why red roses are considered the universal symbol of love. It does not matter whether you're gifting a single red rose or a bouquet to your loved ones, each red rose has a different meaning. And though for some gifting chocolates, romantic-filled cards among other gifts seem normal, Valentine's Day is hardly complete without a bouquet of roses, particularly red roses. Why is that?
The popularity of Roses During Valentine's Day
Dear February 14th, what is the real meaning behind the millions of roses loved ones receive on this day and what is the hidden meaning behind the number of roses in a bouquet? This—alongside many other questions—is often answered as bouquets of red roses are given to loved ones as a symbol of Valentine's love.
On top of all that goes on on Valentine's Day, roses take center stage. They are shipped from all over the world just in time for you to have that desirable bouquet. This is because roses—especially red ones— are ever the purest and most reliable symbol to express intense emotions; they are nature's poetry wrapped up in velvety and delicate petals.
For thousands of years, roses have been used to mark and celebrate key occasions, including but not limited to; anniversaries, weddings, funerals, baby showers, and even graduation ceremonies. Gifting them became a customary practice during the Victorian era when it became traditional to send secret messages through the medium of flowers. Sending flowers was—and still is—a common way for lovers and admirers to send private messages that were thought erotically unrefined to share publicly at the time due to Victorian-era decorum.
The sender used the language of floriography to give meaning to flowers. They inspired many stories, myths, and legends to interpret each flower. When the situation demanded it, the meaning was invented to fit.
The History Behind Red Roses on Valentine’s Day
The tradition of presenting roses on Valentine's Day has different origins and legends. Most of these are founded in Greek mythology, just as is the history of Cupid and Valentine's Day. The red rose is often linked to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, who symbolizes love and beauty. One popular myth suggests that the first red rose emerged when Aphrodite pricked her foot on a thorn of a white rose, causing her blood to stain the petals crimson. Another tale recounts that red roses bloomed from the ground where Adonis, Aphrodite's lover, died; his blood mixed with her tears, creating the iconic red flower.
Elsewhere in ancient Rome, roses were associated with various celebrations and rituals. The festival of Lupercalia, which celebrated fertility, included the shedding of blood believed to enhance fertility, further linking the red color with love and passion. Over time, these associations among numerous others, solidified the rose's status as a symbol of romantic love. But legends aside, the history of Valentine's Day and its red rose associations can be traced back to the 18th century. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, the wife of a British ambassador to Turkey during the 1700s, is an early figure sometimes associated with the relationship between roses and romance.
Lady Montagu wrote letters home enthusing over a kind of Turkish flower language, or the technique of attributing various symbolic meanings to certain flowers. In her letters, she talked about the Turkish custom of sending flowers with specific meanings, which influenced British society's adoption of this practice. This marked a significant evolution in how flowers were used to express romantic sentiments. Later, the concept of 'flower languages' caught on, particularly in 19th-century England, and roses were then progressively more closely associated with passionate love.
What is in a color though? Red incorporates a range of meanings courage, danger, and sacrifices, and is often associated with intensity, passion, sexuality, and love. Based on the significance and meaning of a red tone, it is with no surprise that red roses are vital in celebrating your loved ones and expressing your deepest and genuine sentiments during Valentine's Day.
The Meaning Behind the Number of Red Roses in a Bouquet
This is where the real significance of red roses comes in. Giving one or giving twelve red roses have different meanings and you're about to get detailed info so you can decide how many red roses you want to gift someone on Valentine's Day. A single rose is often gifted to those you love, which indicates ‘love at first sight’. If you're in the mood to gift two special red roses, take into account that two single roses are given to those you are deeply in love with. How about three? Three roses mean a deep 'I love you'.
Continuing with the significance of red roses, it's time to get into the bouquet love that so many adore worldwide when Valentine's season comes around. A dozen is like picking the best heart from a Sweetheart candy box; it means 'be mine'. If you’re proud of someone, 14 roses are the number to choose from, and on the other hand, if you wish to tell a loved one to ‘stay beautiful, or 'I'm yours', gift them with 18 roses, a symbol of sincerity and trueness.
Now the moment you've been waiting for: the significance of 24 roses in a bouquet which is the most traditional gift to ever exist for Valentine's Day. By gifting two dozen red roses you can let a special somebody know they’re always on your mind with a gift of 24 single rose stems. Moving on to higher numbers, if you hold a genuine love for a special someone, 40 red roses is the number to choose. When you know of unconditional love, 50 red roses symbolize this never-ending love. Last but not least, the love gets extremely real when someone gets gifted 100 red roses. One hundred red roses represent a gesture of true and passionate devotion to someone, precisely to say my love for you knows no bounds.
Valentine's Day Preparation, Growers' Perspective
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes? the run-up to Valentine's Day, the growing intricacies span eight weeks before the month of love kicks off, rose growers around the world kickstart the pruning to get the flushes in time for Valentine's Day orders around the world. Shipping these beauties to different parts of the world, gets even more complicated logistically, for any grower prior booking with airlines is crucial to ensure your roses arrive just in time at your clients' destination for Valentine's Day celebration.
Florists, wholesalers, retailers, or even unpackers rely on the growers to deliver committed quantities of roses a week to even two weeks before Valentine's Day, giving every player within the floral supply chain enough time to package and finally sell these roses to the end consumer. The amount of work that goes into rose production, logistics, and eventually floral arrangement and packaging make such a gift priceless and worthy of gifting the same to your loved one.
Sparking Love With Red Roses
Nothing sparks love and romance like red roses do, and it is hands down a true classic when it comes to declaring your love and longing for another. Besides Valentine's Day, a red rose is also a great gift for special days like Women's Day and is one of the most wanted rose colors for Mother's Day.
Gifting a rose is the simplest yet most universal gesture of telling someone how much you love them without actually saying a thing. Plus, who doesn’t love being surprised with beautiful red roses on Valentine’s Day? Now that February 14th is right around the corner, it's time to ignite thoughtful connections between you and your beloved. Happy Valentine's Day!
Header Image by Krista Bennett, feature image by Budgeron Bach.
