Why do we give red roses on Valentine’s Day? For centuries, flowers have symbolized fertility, love, marriage, and romance. During the Victorian era, it became popular to use flowers to send secretive messages. Known as floriography, sending flowers became a commonly used way for lovers and admirers to express secret messages that Victorian etiquette deemed unacceptable to share openly. The meaning behind each flower was often pulled from various myths, fables, or legends. When the need is, the meaning was made up to suit the occasion.
Red roses, for instance, typically represent love and romance and have been a powerful symbol of passion for many cultures through the ages. The rose was sacred to a number of goddesses including Isis of Egypt, and the ancient Greeks and Romans identified the rose with their goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus.
Now giving a bouquet of flowers is considered a classic Valentine’s Day gift. Luth Research shows that 91% of men who give flowers to their significant other on Valentine’s Day do so simply to show their love. What’s more, more than 75% of men have given flowers for Valentine’s Day in the past two years.
Can you send other less “classic” flowers and still get the same level of love and romance across to your sweetheart?
Tulips
If you think red roses are to cliché, a red tulip means “perfect love,” although it springs from a tragic love story. A Turkish legend (tulips originally came from Persia and Turkey) tells of a prince named Farhad who was madly in love with a woman named Shirin. When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was so overcome with grief that he killed himself by riding his horse over the edge of a cliff. Supposedly a scarlet tulip sprang up from each droplet of his blood, giving the red tulip its meaning. Pink and yellow tulips represent the feelings of caring and being hopelessly in love. Tulips also last longer in a vase with water than most other flowers, so if you want a bouquet that will make it past February 15 then tulips are your best bet.
Orchids
A symbol of love, wisdom, beauty, seduction, and refinement, there are many types of orchids all over the world. But even with many types of orchards, they are still rather rare and hard to find. Giving an orchard is a way to show that you appreciate your love’s rare and delicate beauty. As well as their quiet and understated strength. Orchids need a little more love and care in order to survive though, so be sure you treat them well.
Dahlias
The dahlia flower signifies sentiments of dignity and elegance. It is also the symbol of a commitment and bond that lasts forever. So if you are thinking of proposing this Valentine’s Day say it with a dahlia! Cultivated by the Aztecs, dahlias bloom in white and a variety of showy hues, including pink, crimson, orange, and yellow.
Bird Of Paradise
The Bird of Paradise is a 9th wedding anniversary flower, symbolizing faithfulness, and celebrating distinctive and unique beauty. This flower is also meant to express freedom and joy. It’s an incredibly exceptional flower and a great alternative if your lover thinks red roses are boring!
So this is why we give red roses on Valentine’s Day.
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