Flowers often have different meanings and in Victorian
times, when young ladies were seldom alone with a suitor, the language of
flowers became a secret form of communication between them. Here are some general meanings associated with different colours of roses.
Red Rose
This was the sacred flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of
love, and has been a symbol of love and beauty from ancient times to the
present day. Nothing epitomizes romantic love as much as a dozen red roses on
St Valentine’s Day. Robert Burns’ famous song, My Love is like a Red, Red Rose
is famous throughout the world for its romantic sentiments of constant love.
In some countries, the red rose means marriage while in
Christianity, it is sometimes symbolic of Christ’s shed blood. The red rose
represented the House of Lancaster in the English Wars of the Roses from
1455-1485.
White Rose
Regarded as a symbol of purity and secrecy, the white rose
represents water and is the flower of moonlight. In parts of Scotland, a white
rose blooming in autumn was thought to herald an early death. A white rose bud
often symbolised a girl too young to love. The white rose represented the House
of York in the Wars of the Roses.
In Saxon times, red and white petals were showered on newlyweds
to represent their union of passion (red roses) and purity (white roses).
Yellow Rose
The yellow rose is mostly associated with jealousy and
infidelity. Today, it is also sometimes regarded as a symbol of joy and
friendship.
Pink Rose
The pink rose often represents innocent love and happiness.
Less intense than the red rose, it can be a symbol of poetic love and
admiration. Often among the most fragrant of roses, they are sometimes given as
a token of thanks.
Tudor Rose
With its red outer and white inner petals, the Tudor rose
symbolizes unity, from the union of the two royal houses of York and Lancaster.
It was adopted by Henry Tudor as his standard when he married Elizabeth of York
in 1485.
The rose is still the emblem of England and few gardens are
complete without its fragrant beauty in one form or another, from
old-fashioned, perfumed damask roses to the smallest patio rosebud. The rose
can even continue to give pleasure when it has died through the use of its
dried petals and buds in fragrant pot-pourri. Definitely one of my favourite
flowers!
Rosemary
7 comments:
I have to agree, Rosemary, and altough they don't last long in a vase, they're lovely to look at in a garden, especially the climbing ones. One of my favourite flowers is Sweet William. I know from researching for my Factory Affair book that it stands for gallantry or grant me one smile.
Lovely post, Rosemary. I didn't know that about Victorians using flowers as a secret form of communication.
There is something very special about a rose!
They are so beautiful, Rosemary. The Tudor one is especially gorgeous. And how lovely that the Victorians used them for secret messages. xxx
I find the language of flowers interesting, but it does seem as though it would be very easy to accidentally say something which wasn't meant.
Oh, Sweet William was my mother's favourite flower, Susan, and I don't hear of it very often now! Thanks for visiting.
I agree about the rose, Teresa. Yes, there are lots of lovely meanings for different flowers and I'm hoping to use some of them eventually in a Victorian story!
I'd love to come across a Tudor one, Joanna, as it sounds beautiful!
Think of the plot possibilities in that case, Patsy!
Lovely photographs of the roses - I particularly like the white roses and it's interesting to read the meaning behind them (good symbolism to use in writing!)
Congratultions, Rosemary, you've won the book giveaway on my blog. I'm about to announce it now. When you're ready, can you email me your address please and the book will be on it's way.
susan.jones7@tiscali.co.uk Hope you enjoy reading it.xx
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