Symbolism of Roses
Roses are recurring symbols in mythology and storytelling worldwide. A group that meets “sub rosa” (under the rose) does so in secret. Roman banquet rooms were decorated with roses to remind guests that what happened at the party, stayed at the party.
In ancient Greece and Rome, roses were associated with Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The birth of Venus is often depicted with sea foam transformed into white roses to represent her beauty and purity. It is said that a rose bush grew from a pool of Adonis’s blood, symbolizing his immortal love for Venus. Roses have also appeared on coats of arms. In the 15th-century War of the Roses, two families—the House of Lancaster, represented by the red rose, and the House of York, represented by the white rose—battled for the English throne.
In Victorian England, flower dictionaries assigned meanings to different plants. Known as floriography, the language of flowers and arrangement was used to convey messages. Flowers were arranged by season, lore, and meaning. Roses of different colors have come to convey different messages to its recipient. A red rose symbolizes love and passion; yellow, friendship; and white, innocence and purity.