The red rose, the colour of passion. The true meaning of Valentine's Day.
14 February is a special day for many people, as on Valentine's Day we celebrate love and affection and give each other gifts as an expression of our admiration. We give flowers, sweets and romantic messages to our loved ones as a token of our appreciation. Many men in love also choose this day to propose to their sweetheart,
as there is no more romantic occasion in the year.
The history of Valentine's Day
It was originally observed as St Valentine's Day, the patron saint of lovers and newlyweds. According to legend, Bishop Valentine married lovers, including soldiers, according to Christian custom, who were forbidden to marry by the Roman Emperor. Bishop Valentine presented the newlyweds with flowers from his garden. Because of his Christian faith, the bishop was executed by Emperor Claudius II on 14 February, according to tradition.
Over time, Valentine's Day has gradually become a secular holiday, and what used to be a holiday that existed only in Anglo-Saxon culture is now, thanks to globalisation, commemorated in some form as a day of love all over the world, even in places where it was not originally part of the culture.
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The flower as a faithful transmitter of our emotions
As we learned from the legend of Bishop Bálint, the tradition of welcoming newlyweds with a bouquet of flowers has deep roots. Even in antiquity, people used flowers to pay homage to gods and rulers, such as the lotus blossoms in Egyptian frescoes or the Roman festival of Floralia, in honour of Flora, the goddess of flowers.
In ancient China, the peony was a symbol of wealth, abundance, honour and dignity. The flower was favoured by noble families and the imperial court as a symbol of wealth and social status, and was used as an ornament in gardens. In the ancient East, the lotus was known as a symbol of purity, enlightenment and spiritual awakening. The lotus flower grows in the mud but remains pure and beautiful, thus symbolising spiritual awakening and overcoming difficulties, and was often offered to the gods during spiritual rituals.
The symbol of the red rose
The gift of a red rose on Valentine's Day is also associated with love and passion. According to legend, the rose sprang from the tears of Aphrodite and the blood of Adonis when the goddess cried over her dying lover, Adonis. Over time, the red rose has thus become a symbol of passionate love and desire, the deeper the colour of the rose, the deeper the emotion.
History of the colour red
The colour red has always had a strong symbolism throughout history, but its meaning has changed over time and across cultures. What has been constant is that it has always represented intense emotion, power and strength. In addition to expressing love and passion, it has also been used by rulers, for example, to express their authority and status. The red colour of military flags, uniforms and the royal robes is evidence of this.
Red is the colour of good luck and abundance in Chinese culture. During Chinese New Year, red ornaments and envelopes (for example, to give money) are used to bring good luck.
The ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks also used the colour red, especially in religious and ritual contexts. The Egyptians used red as a symbol of birth, rebirth and fertility. Red pigments were often used to represent gods such as Horus, the sun god, or Isis, who symbolised fertility.
In antiquity, the production of red colour required great care and skill, and depended entirely on the raw material available at the time. Mineral-based pigments, such as red ochre or cinnabar, were durable and long-lasting for wall paintings, while for textile dyeing, organic substances derived from nature were used, for example from crimson, purple mussels or dyer's weed.
In the Middle Ages, new plant and animal dyes, new technologies and new dyes were brought to Europe from China and India via the Silk Road. Dyeing recipes were closely guarded in various workshops (such as textile workshops), as they were of considerable economic value. In the Middle Ages, red continued to be highly valued and its production required sophisticated techniques.
The colour red still has a strong influence on our culture in modern times. In the world of cars and fashion, red represents dynamism and energy, while also attracting attention and still conveying love and passion.
Giving a red rose to the one you love
Giving a red rose is a clear message of love to your beloved, which initially requires courage. Giving a red rose is a simple but powerful gesture. It carries a message of specialness: "You are the only one for me!"
With a big bouquet of red roses we can express the boundlessness of our emotions, we want to conquer the love of our hearts.
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A million red roses
With The Million Roses forever flowers boxes, you can pack even more meaning into a single gift. The forever rose is a symbol of forever love. The flowers are naturally preserved, so you can enjoy the fresh flower arrangement for over three years, making the living flower an everslasting memory.
With The Million Roses, gift-giving is simple, yet the gift will be full of emotion, finding its way to the one you love. Just choose the shade of red to match your emotions - a budding relationship might call for a lighter shade, a proposal or an anniversary gift in the deepest shade of burgundy. Choose the number of roses according to the message you want to send, and all that's left is to choose the box. There are many different boxes and layouts to choose from, Suede Boxes offer extra velvetiness for a more luxurious feel, while a heart-shaped layout can be about a more romantic spirit
What better way to celebrate your love than with a red rose, be it a single rose or a box of forever flowers! Red roses in a box stay beautiful and fresh for up to three years, so a bouquet is a truly romantic gift of everlasting love.
An extra tip if you think the person you've chosen is the most special person on earth: feel free to include extra special pieces such as green roses, blue roses, purple roses or even black roses. We will write more about the meanings of these special colours in the next parts of our article series, we will go into what meanings they have and what extraordinary messages they carry.
