The Language of Roses

Roses have as many legends and folklore attached to them as other flowers. According to a charming medieval legend, the first roses made a miraculous appearance in order to save a ‘fayre maiden’ who had been sentenced to death by burning. Falsely accused, she prayed for deliverance and the fire subsequently went out. The logs which were already burning became red roses and the unlit logs became white roses.

In Christianity, the rose is the symbol of the Virgin Mary and is also often attributed to various saints, such as St Dorothea, who carries a basket of roses. The rosary, used in Catholicism, was once made from wild rose hips strung together.

Other myths attached to roses:

• In past times, ladies often used rose petals to make a face pack to help get rid of wrinkles
• It was thought that rose petals in wine avoided drunkenness
• It was good luck to throw rose leaves over a grave
• In Roman times, rose petals were valuable currency

Sub Rosa

Sometimes an emblem of silence, sub rosa, under the rose, means keeping a secret. It was believed that Cupid gave Harpocrates, the god of silence, a rose to bribe him not betray the many amorous encounters of Venus. The rose thus became the emblem of silence and was eventually sculpted on the ceilings of banquet rooms, still seen today. At the dinner table, all confidences spoken under this were held sacred. In the 16th century, the rose was also placed over confessionals to signify absolute confidentiality.

Rose Windows

The famous stained-glass rose windows depicted on many cathedrals and churches originated mainly in 13th century France and are often a symbol of eternity. Their perfect geometry was regarded as being similar to the eastern mandala, a meditative symbol signifying the paths to enlightenment and the human desire for wholeness.

In addition to these stories surrounding roses, the flowers often have different meanings according to their colour. In Victorian times, when young ladies were seldom alone with a suitor, the language of flowers became a secret form of communication between them.

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 newly weds 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.

References:

Brewer’s Myth and Legend, ed. J.C Cooper (QPD)

The Illustrated Book of Signs and Symbols, Miranda Bruce-Mitford (Dorling Kindersley)