Flowers have held symbolic meaning for cultures around the world for thousands of years. Certain flowers have been associated with royalty, admiration, love, beauty, mourning, friendship, and many other concepts. When selecting flowers to give as gifts or use in floral arrangements, it can be helpful to understand the meaning behind different types of blooms. This allows the flower choice to reflect a particular sentiment or occasion. One flower that is strongly linked to both royalty and admiration is the rose.
The History of the Rose as a Royal Symbol
Roses have been revered for their beauty and fragrance for centuries. Historical accounts show roses being cultivated in Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. However, the rose increased in popularity and took on more symbolic meaning in England during the rule of the Tudor dynasty in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Tudor rose, a combination of the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster, became the national emblem of England following the end of the Wars of the Roses. It was a representation of unity after a long civil war.
The founder of the Tudor dynasty, King Henry VII, adopted the Tudor rose as his personal floral emblem. Roses were planted extensively at royal palaces and the flower became closely associated with the monarchy in England. Queen Elizabeth I in particular loved roses and grew many varieties in her private gardens. She frequently wore roses in her hair or as adornments on gowns. The Queen’s affinity for the bloom elevated the rose to an even stronger symbol of royalty and high status in 16th century England.
Symbolic Meaning of Roses
So why was the rose chosen to represent English royalty when there are countless flowers to choose from? Roses have several attributes that give them broad symbolic meaning:
Beauty and Fragrance
Roses are prized for their beauty and scent. They come in a wide range of colors and varieties. The early summer bloom season provides a burst of vibrant blossoms and perfumed aroma. Beauty and sweet fragrance are fitting symbols for royalty meant to convey wealth, luxury, and admiration.
Thorns and Hardiness
While roses have undeniable beauty, they also have thorns along their stems. The sharp thorns defend the coveted blooms from being plucked by just anyone without care and serve as a reminder that beauty often comes with costs. Additionally, wild roses are hardy plants that can thrive without extensive care. These traits parallel the concept of royal power which should not be handled casually or trifled with. Yet the monarchy must be hardy enough to survive changes over generations.
Rarity and Cultivation
Long ago, roses could only be cultivated by societies with the resources to plant, care for, and protect tender bushes. Royalty had the means to purposefully grow roses and safeguard them as status symbols. Today, roses are more widely available, but they remain labor-intensive plants requiring ample care. The effort involved in cultivating perfect blooms adds to their specialness and value.
Meaning of Rose Colors
Beyond the general symbolism of a rose, different rose colors carry distinct meanings:
| Rose Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Love, romance, beauty |
| Pink | Grace, happiness, admiration |
| White | Purity, innocence, reverence |
| Yellow | Friendship, joy, optimism |
| Orange | Enthusiasm, passion, desire |
| Lavender | Enchantment, splendor, love at first sight |
| Blue | Unattainable, imagination, mystique |
Red roses are most strongly associated with romance and enduring love. They are the Valentine’s Day rose of choice. Red roses send a message of deep affection. Pink roses convey gentility and grace. They are perfect for admiration and expressing happiness or congratulations. White roses capture innocence and purity. They make beautiful wedding flowers. Yellow roses represent friendship and are wonderful for offering warmth and companionship. Orange roses communicate excitement and passion. Lavender roses signify enchantment and love at first sight. Blue roses do not occur naturally, capturing the idea of unattainable or imagined love.
The Rose as a Symbol of Admiration
There are several ways in which the rose symbolizes admiration:
Admiration of Divine Beauty
Humans have long admired roses for their sublime beauty. In the 17th century, the French writer Théophile de Viau noted, “The rose is the queen of flowers, as the lily is their empress.” The flawless beauty of a rose conjures notions of divine creative perfection. No wonder roses inspire admiration from those who behold them.
Admiration of Romantic Partners
Red roses are given to express romantic love and enduring admiration. They communicate “I love you” and “you are beautiful.” When presented to a sweetheart, roses convey admiration for both inner and outer qualities. The gift of roses shows deep respect and esteem for the recipient.
Admiration of Friendship
Yellow roses signify platonic admiration between friends. Giving yellow roses demonstrates warmth, affection, and respect for a friend. The bright golden hue reflects the joy and optimism that comes from friendships. Yellow roses are perfect for showing how much you cherish your friends.
Admiration of Character and Accomplishment
Pink roses denote gentility, happiness, and admiration. They allow you to pay respect to someone’s graceful character or celebrate admirable achievements. Pink roses are ideal for recognizing dignified women role models or sending congratulations wishes on accomplishments or milestones.
Admiration of Departed Loved Ones
White roses express reverence and innocent love. Placing white roses on a grave or memorial sends a message of admiration and respect for someone who has passed away. The roses honor the cherished qualities of loved ones no longer physically present.
The Rose in Art and Literature
The rose has been an iconic subject in art and literature for hundreds of years, often representing love, beauty, politics, and the fragility of life.
Paintings
Some famous paintings focusing on roses include:
– Roses in a Glass Vase by Henri Fantin-Latour: This romantic still life painting from the late 1800s depicts a crystal vase overflowing with red, pink, and white roses. The saturated colors and detailed brushwork showcase the roses’ beauty.
– Roses by Vincent van Gogh: Van Gogh painted several bouquets of vivid red and pink roses during his career. His striking, expressive style amplifies the roses’ lively energy.
– White Rose in a Glass Vase by John Constable: An early 19th century English painter, Constable captured the gentle charm of white roses in this tranquil composition.
– Flowers in a Glass Vase with Two Doves by Henri Matisse: Matisse’s Fauvist style used non-naturalistic colors. In this painting, the roses range from purple to green to orange.
Poems and Plays
Roses are the subject of poems by Robert Burns, William Blake, Robert Frost, and many more poets. They also feature symbolically in Shakespeare plays like Romeo and Juliet.
Some specific examples include:
– Burns’ “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose”: This poem compares his enduring love to the beauty of a fresh red rose.
– Blake’s “The Sick Rose”: The rose represents damaged innocence in this short, haunting poem.
– “The Rose Family” by Robert Frost: A lyrical poem describing the varieties of roses and their place in the garden.
– Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet: Juliet is referred to as a “rose” by Romeo and there is the famous balcony scene mentioning “a rose by any other name…”
Roses in Politics
Roses show up in political imagery and messaging:
– Socialism is associated with a raised fist inside a red rose.
– Democratic Socialists adopted the rose symbol, originally created by Socialist International.
– Ronald Reagan used “Remain a rose forever” with a drawing of a rose as his 1980 presidential campaign slogan.
– The White Rose organization rebelled against Nazi leadership in Germany, using the white rose as an emblem.
– Feminist group Raging Grannies wear hats adorned with red roses.
The Rose Lifecycle
What explains the rose’s enduring symbolic power is its lifecycle and growing conditions:
Fragility
Rose bushes require careful tending and ideal conditions to produce their blooms. The flowers themselves are delicate and short-lived. The fragility of the blooms reminds us to appreciate beauty and fleeting moments when we find them.
Renewal
Although rose flowers fade quickly, the bushes renew themselves each year. New shoots emerge and fresh blossoms open in a perpetual cycle of regeneration. The rose exemplifies resilience through this annual process of revival.
Thorny Stems
The stems of rose bushes are covered in sharp thorns, protecting the roses from hungry animals and careless hands. The thorns add contrast to the soft petals, representing challenge and hardship yielding to beauty.
Seasonal Life
Roses have a relatively short, highly anticipated bloom season, mostly centering around early summer. The surge of roses each new season brings joy and celebration. Their transient peak-bloom period heightens the momentary experience.
Cultivation Around the World
Roses originate from Asia but spread across the globe through trade, conquest, and migration. They now grow nearly everywhere thanks to targeted cultivation:
Europe
– France: Known for fine perfumes with rose scents and ingredients. Home of the historic rose Garden of Roses.
– England: Extensive rose cultivation accelerated under the Tudors. English roses focus on repeat flowering varieties.
– Italy: Associated with Renaissance rose breeding and Roman rose varieties.
North America
– United States: Leading commercial producers like California supply cut roses across the country. Public rose gardens found in many cities.
– Canada: Rose-growing areas include British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Hosts rose convention in St. Foy.
Africa and the Middle East
– Morocco: Known for fine, fragrant roses used in perfumes. Site of annual Festival of Roses showcasing extensive rose farms.
– Egypt: Roses grown near the Nile River Valley. Featured heavily in ancient Egyptian culture.
– Iran: Persian roses famous in the region. Shiraz is called the “City of Roses and Nightingales”
Asia
– China: Home to oldest known roses dating back 5 million years. Chinese rose breeding and cultivation practices influenced many varieties.
– India: Rosa indica, a relative of the tea rose, originates from India and neighboring areas. Used in religious offerings, weddings, and Ayurvedic medicine.
– Japan: Japanese flower arranging (Ikebana) relies heavily on roses. Varieties including yellow yamaguchi roses enjoyed in home gardens.
Conclusion
The rose has maintained symbolic significance cross cultures over thousands of years due to its beauty, fragrance, seasonal life cycle, and connection to love and admiration. Roses became strongly linked to royalty, status, and politics starting in Medieval England under the Tudors. Today roses continue to convey deep emotion and meaning from romantic love and friendship to celebration and remembrance. The timeless rose remains a favorite subject of art, music, and literature internationally. With extensive cultivation, most of the world can now enjoy some variety of rose. However, its fragile bloom cycle and thorny stems ensure this queen of flowers is still treated with care and admiration.