Roses symbolize qualities
such as passion, prosperity
The popular Valentine's Day flower represents
more than romantic love in a range of cultures
By Rachel Lee
Freelance Reporter
For many, red roses on Valentine's Day are a representa
tion of love, but the flower has a variety of meanings de
pending on where and how it is used.
According to Andrew T. Cummings' book "All about
Symbols," a single rose is seen as a symbol of perfection,
earthly passions and sensuality of the flesh. It can also sym
bolize time and eternity, and life and death. The rose also
"symbolizes love, life, creation, fertility, beauty and virgin
ity," Cummings wrote.
Roses have significant meanings for some cultures, and
in the Chinese custom, the rose symbolizes fragrance and
prosperity. In ancient Egyptian culture, roses were dedicat
ed to Isis and symbolized pure love free of lusts of the flesh.
In the Greco-Roman tradition, the rose symbolizes love,
gaiety, beauty and passion. The Romans would grow roses
in their funeral gardens as a symbol of renewed resurrec
tion and eternal spring. In the cabala, the center of the rose
is the sun and the petals are infinity, the harmonious vari
ety of nature.
The colors of the roses also bear meanings, according to
http://www.everyrose.com. Interpreting the meaning of
different colored flowers can also be called "the language
of flowers," which probably originated from Persia in the
15th century. In the 19th century, this "floral code" became
more elaborate so that complex messages could be sent in
bouquets between people.
The positioning of the roses also means different things.
Roses that are bent to the right means "I" and roses that are
bent to the left mean "you." A ribbon that is knotted on
the left would mean a message from the giver, but if it were
knotted on the right, it would mean a message from the
recipient, according to http://www.everyrose.com. If roses
are accepted with the right hand, it would mean agreement
or affirmation, but if it were accepted with the left hand, it
would mean disagreement. Roses worn over the heart
mean love, but roses worn in the hair mean caution.
The rarest roses are black. There are several types of black
roses called "Black Baccara," "Black Beauty" or "BlackMag
ic." They are referred to as the "Holy Grail" for most florists
because they only bloom in that color once a year. These
roses, which are scorched by the sun and have eventually
evolved into a new kind of rose, are actually not full black
in color but a deep red.
"Roses are the most beautiful in June, where they are re
ferred to as garden roses, and they are very fragrant,"
Rhythm and Blooms florist Michelle McLaughlin said.
She noted that pink roses are the nicest-smelling roses to get
"For this year, most roses are overpriced because they
are imported from California and Ecuador, and roses have
become very cliche because it is overdone by the media,"
she said. "They have lost their meaning."
McLaughlin suggested purchasing other flowers instead
of roses.
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Danielle Hickey Photo Editor
A variety of roses are available at Rhythm and Blooms’ booth on the
comer of East 13th Avenue and Kincaid Street.
"Gardenias would be good flowers to get for your loved
one because it is unique and it smells good too," she said.
"I like champagne-colored roses because it is a very nice
looking color," freshman Charlotte Gallagher said. "It gives
the complex flower a tinge of simplicity."
Several University students said they prefer yellow roses
because they said it is a happier color, and red roses have
been overdone for Valentine's Day.
"I like pink roses because although red roses are very
beautiful and bold, pink gives out a gentler and softer
vibe," junior Nikki Yi said.
Rachel Lee is a freelance reporter for the Emerald.
ROSE COLOR MEANINGS
• Red: True love, respect, courage, romantic love
and a job well done,
• Yellow: Joy, freedom, friendship and jealousy.
• Pink: Perfection, happiness, gentleness,
sweetness and “please believe me,"
• light pink: Grace and joy.
• Dark pink: Thankfulness,
• White: Reverence, purity, innocence, secrecy and
! am worthy of you."
► Lavender; Enchantment
» Orange; Fascination and enthusiasm.
* Coral (champagne): Desire.
► Red and white: Unity.
» Black; Farewell and death.
► Deep burgundy: Beamy.
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