Of all the flowers, none smell so sweet or say I love you quite as well as the rose. If you’re among the thousands of ladies wishing for a beautiful bouquet of roses for Valentine’s day this year, you may have found yourself wondering, why roses? Sure, they’re beautiful and they go great with your little red date night dress, but how did the rose come to be the symbol of eternal love?
Like many modern traditions, this one traces its roots back to the ancient Greeks who named the rose queen of the flowers. In their mythology the rose was created from the body of a fallen nymph in a joint effort between Aphrodite, Dionysus, and Apollo, along with some help from the three Graces and Zephyr, the west wind.
Through their divine intervention, the nymph was transformed into a beautiful flower infused with the essences of each of the godly influences who had lent their power to its creation. Aphrodite, as the goddess of love and beauty, immediately adopted the rose as her patron flower.
It wasn’t until much later that the rose was also declared the queen of the Valentine’s Day flowers as well. Long after the rose was born into Greek mythology, the Christians came to associate its five petals with the five wounds of Christ. With their deep red color, roses also gave reverence to the blood of the martyrs who, like Christ, died for the faith. One of those martyrs was St. Valentine, who professed against deadly opposition that marriage should be a sacred bond between one woman and one man.
Seizing upon the legend of St. Valentine, it was the medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer, who may have invented Valentine’s Day as we know it. He’s long been credited with linking the idea of courtly love to the martyred saints’ marriage ideals. Roses conveniently symbolized both and have been known as the most desired flower for Valentine’s Day ever since.
There really is no better testament to your enduring passion for one another than one that’s endured throughout the centuries and across conflicting faiths to say I love you to you. And that’s why, while you’re busy polishing your sexy self for the admiration of your main squeeze, florists like the ones at FreshFlowers.com.au are busy creating beautiful arrangements of roses to help you celebrate your love.
Carrying forward the lineage of the St. Valentines, flowers have become a major gifting element in modern times. From anniversaries to birthdays, from promotions to break-ups, people are gifting flowers more than ever before. Many are opting for expert and credible delivery services. If you are short on time, but are looking to woo your loved one with a stunningly created bouquet, you should opt for flower delivery Dubai.
Natalie Brown says
I’ve read many of the Greek myths but hadn’t heard of this one. That’s pretty cool. Obviously, people throughout time have that the rose was one of the most beautiful flowers. It’s not my favorite but it is undeniably beautiful. 🙂
Debbie Welchert says
I never knew the story behind why roses became the favorite flower for Valentine’s Day. What an interesting story. They are a beautiful flower.
Karen says
That’s so interesting! The Greeks sure do have great imaginations. I don’t condone having multiple gods, but the Greeks sure make up some interesting stories! lol
Patricia C. says
Very interesting and well written