Symbolism and myths of roses

Are you wondering why the flowers considered the most romantic symbol of love and romance are red roses? After all these years, the same red roses are considered and associated with love.

Let's discover the facts behind why red roses are classified and symbolized as the most romantic flower in the world.

Greek and Roman Mythology

• Based on Greek mythology, this type of flower is believed to have been created by the goddess of love, Aphrodite, and according to legend, her tears and the blood of her lover, Adonis, watered the soil from which the red roses grew. And since then it has become the symbol of love unto death. 
• Another legend about its romantic significance was the belief of the early Christians that this flower was the virtue of the Virgin Mary.
• In Roman Mythology, it was mentioned and observed that wealthy Romans preferred the flowers and petals of red roses to associate beauty and love. Priestesses loved to treat their bodies with a bath full of roses, while some of them filled their bedrooms with red rose flowers and petals because of their pleasant smell and wonderful feel.

Therefore, due to the above beliefs and mythology, red roses became the ultimate symbol of passionate love and romance.

Eastern cultural beliefs

There are also many Eastern cultural beliefs and traditions that associate red roses with love and romance. 

Roses were widely cultivated in China thousands of years ago. According to Hindu myths, their goddess Laxmi, the goddess of fortune and prosperity and also the wife of Vishnu, was created from 1008 small red rose petals and 108 large roses.

For the ancient Arabs, red roses were believed to have a literal effect on their hearts. In one of their Arabic tales, a nightingale bird saw a white rose and fell in love with it. Because of overwhelming love for the flower, the nightingale pressed its body to the rose and a thorn pierced its heart. His blood ran onto the rose and turned red.

Victorian era

Flowers were very important to the Victorians. They use flowers to express their feelings. Flowers were given as gifts to celebrants on birthdays and various occasions. Because of their tradition and belief that flowers, especially roses, were meant to express feelings deeply, it associated red roses as a symbol of a passionate kind of love.

Symbolism of the modern era

In modern times, flowers have continued to be used to express our emotions, especially love and romance. Sending roses, depending on their color and number or their combination with other flowers, has been used to convey messages. For lovers, red roses in beautiful bouquets indicate love, passion and romance.

Concept of the red color of a rose

The relationship and association of red roses with romance and love transcends tradition, cultures and beliefs. Red roses are also associated with intimacy and passionate feelings because of their deeper meaning and symbolism. 

More references to the rose 

• As a flower, it was dedicated to the Dawn, as an emblem of youth, and the winged god Eros bribed the god of Silence with a rose so that he would not witness his misdeeds.Thus began the custom of hanging a rose in the center of the ceiling in places where secret meetings would take place.
• Homer in the Iliad mentions rose oil, as well as Achilles' shield decorated with roses. 
• Theophrastus - father of Botany - describes roses with four to a hundred petals. 
• Pausanias mentions that the inhabitants of Chaeronea prepared Rhodian wine and also an oil or myrrh from roses with which they passed the wooden cult figurines to protect them from deterioration and be scented.
• Hippocrates describes therapeutic perfumes based on roses, known even today in aromatherapy.
• In the libraries of China, in 500 BC, there were many books about roses and their properties.
• In all religions, the rose has its presence and symbolism.
• Christians attributed it to the Virgin Mary. When Eve, leaving the Garden of Eden, kissed a white rose, it blushed with shame, and has since kept its rosy color, as shame brings that color.
• Mohammedans believe that when Mohammed was traveling to heaven, a drop of his sweat fell on the earth and thus the first rose grew.
• The first roses were cultivated in Persia. They became known in Europe by the French. When Napoleon the Great bought Malmaison just outside Paris, his wife, Josephine, spent a huge fortune to collect roses from all over the East and plant them in the Malmaison Park. This park still exists today with 30,000 rose trees.
• For centuries the rose bushes in Southern Morocco, every year at such a time spread their fragrance over a vast distance. According to legend, in the 13th century, pilgrims from Mecca brought with them the mother of flowers, absolute purity, and the Damascus rose.
• Red roses are the most romantic flowers of all and in fact, even Shakespeare used this romantic flower to complete his classic play Romeo and Juliet. Many notable and popular poets and writers have also used the romantic meaning of red roses in their writings.

Meaning of the number of red roses

The number of red roses in a bouquet also has and symbolizes a special meaning. You can send or give a bouquet of roses from a bouquet to large flower bouquets containing a hundred stems. Love and romance are symbolized with different meanings depending on the different numbers or number of red roses in a bouquet.

1 Red Rose. A single red rose symbolizes love at first sight.

2 Red Roses. A pair of red roses symbolizes mutual affection and love.

3 Red Roses. For the first month anniversary, a bouquet of three red roses is a perfect gift. It also says "I love you" in a romantic way.

6 Red Roses. This bouquet represents love or desire.

10 red roses. A bouquet of 10 red roses conveys the feeling of perfect love and romance.

11 red roses. A bouquet of 11 red roses means true and deep love.

12 Red Roses. A bouquet of twelve red roses means "Be mine".

15 Red Roses. A bouquet of 15 red roses conveys the message of your apology, especially when you can't find the right words to say it.

24 Red Roses. A bouquet of 2 dozen red roses conveys your answer to "I'm yours".

36 Red Roses. A bouquet of 3 dozen red roses declares your love and passion.

50 red roses. A bouquet of 50 red roses symbolizes love without limits.

100 red roses. A bouquet of 100 red roses symbolizes devotion.

After all, as Virgil wrote, love conquers all because it is the strongest force in the world. Valentine’s Day, February 14th, Love and its flowers are celebrated and let's not forget that. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love, and those in a romantic relationship probably feel the need to celebrate in some special way.

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