Red Rose Day

June 12th is Red Rose Day, an annual celebration of the universal symbol of love and romance - the humble, but beautiful red rose.

As a well-known symbol of love, in addition to being a beautiful and fragrant flower, it is no wonder that Red Rose Day is such a popular occasion. Celebrating the many facets of the rose, Red Rose Day is a time for gardeners, florists and romantics to come together and enjoy roses in its entire splendor. Red Rose Day offers fans the chance to see the most beautiful roses, in full bloom at the height of the season.

When it comes to commissions, there are a lot of choices, but with all these choices comes great responsibility. If you are thinking of treating a lady or gentleman with a taste for plants, you need to be mindful of the roses you choose.

First of all, let us tackle the little elephant in the digital room. If you are across the river, roses can also mean a small box of cheap chocolates, 20% of which no one will eat, unless you are hoping for a divorce you should probably stay away from these.

Of course, when buying real roses, you still need to be careful. The rose is one of the international symbols of passion and love, but there are certain species of roses, such as the Rosa violet Carson, which are often associated with death and closer to heaven.

Now, while you might approach the situation with the best of intentions, if you were to pass one of these beautiful rose hybrids to someone with a little bit of botany knowledge, the situation would be similar. It's like visiting your parents with a retirement home directory.

All jokes aside, when it comes to a flower that can put you in someone else's arms, or in some cases save you from a lengthy divorce, the rose really is the flower. Most people seem to wonder at this point how a flower can have so much power, so let's find out.

Why is the rose so powerful?

It seems that from all the universal constants that have been discovered over the centuries, the one that seems to last the longest and stand out the most is that men are useless when it comes to communicating their emotions.

Roses seem to have somewhat become a means of communication so that men can say something wonderful without having to say a word. In essence, it seems that the rose is the earliest form of Snapchat.

However, on a more serious note, the rose is actually an international symbol of love. It doesn't matter where in the world you may be if you give your loved one a rose, you are definitely sending a message of love.

Having something like Red Rose Day in the modern world is magical; The world is full of trials and tribulations and it's nice to think that a sentiment as deep and complex as love can be expressed by giving a single flower.

History of Red Rose Day

In keeping with the romantic and mystical feeling red roses can evoke, the exact origin of National Red Rose Day is unknown, although it is believed to have diverged from Rose Day in the past decade. Whatever the reason for this separation, we are happy to have an excuse to facilitate this erythropod bloom.

Surprisingly, the first records of roses being cultivated came from China, about 5000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty (141-87 BC). Although the flowers we call Chinese roses (a variant of Hibiscus) or wild roses, they have similar characteristics to today's red roses and can be seen in paintings and pottery of that era. The red rose then made its way to the culture-infused civilizations of Rome and Greece, where it was cultivated and developed into what we know today, especially in the Middle East. For the Greeks and Romans, the red rose was a symbol of luxury and was an inspiration to many painters and writers. Perhaps that is why we now associate this luxurious flower with passion and grandeur. By the time Christianity spread to Europe, the rose's popularity dwindled as it was seen as encouraging evils such as excess and decadence.

However, it quickly gained popularity again and also had a bloody history. In Tudor England (1500s), two royal factions - the House of York and the House of Lancaster, each with a rose as its symbol, fought a series of battles; which is now collectively known as the War of the Roses. House Lancaster (red rose) finally appeared victorious and the two roses were merged to form 'Tudor Rose'. Yet other than this slightly violent history, the red rose continues to be a universal expression of love, romance, beauty, and all things right in the world.

Some truths about Rose

• Not just the national flower of the United States

Ecuador, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Republic of Maldives, UK, Iran, Iraq, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Romania all claim the commission as their own.

• They can live a millennium

The oldest rose (Hildesheim Rose) is 1000 years old, growing in a Church in Hildesheim, Germany.

• Every color has a separate meaning

A note to the wise - be careful when you choose roses, as each color represents something different.

• Growing roses can be profitable

Rose breeder named David Austin spent 15 years and $5 million on his Juliet Rose, which sold for a whopping $15.8 million in 2006.

• Red rose means secret

In ancient Rome, wearing a red rose or keeping it outside the door meant that one was sworn to secrecy, hence the term 'sub rosa' meaning 'secret'.

Communicate Emotions

People have used roses to convey a variety of emotions and feelings since ancient times. The earliest evidence of rose cultivation dates back to around 5000 years ago in China. In ancient Greece and Rome, the rose was a luxury item, reserved only for the rich and royal, and a muse for painters and writers. Roses are used for medicinal purposes and for religious ceremonies.

The popularity of the rose is affected a lot because of the spread of Christianity in Europe. It is considered a symbol of depravity and decadence, evils that do not fit the purely religious origins. By the 5th and 6th centuries AD, the rose once again attracted the fascination of artists, poets and writers in Europe and the Middle East.

Symbol of War and Love

In the 15th century, factions vying for the throne in England adopted the rose as their symbol. The white rose is the symbol for York and the red rose for Lancaster. The resulting war was known as the War of the Roses, which was ultimately won by supporters of the red rose.

The red rose has held a symbolic place in most cultures around the world. In many parts of the world, red rose is a sign to express love, romance, beauty and respect. Red roses are one of the most popular flowers given during holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Moreover, it is also the symbol of social democratic parties in many countries.

In Spanish, French and Portuguese, rose means red.

How to celebrate Red Rose Day

• Let your creativity flow

There is a trend on social media to share reminders and allow people to create what they will do around them. Let the red rose be your reminder and see where your creativity leads you. Go the classical route with a song, poem or painting; or think out of the box and use it to create something unique!

• Hold a contest at the pub

If we had a penny for every reference to the red rose in popular culture through the ages, we would be able to buy a rose a day! Be it in songs, movies, books or quotes - lots of references to commissions. So why not do some research, get your team together, and host a rose-themed pub check?

• Visiting the rose garden

Since June is when the roses are at their best, plan an outing with friends or family to enjoy that sweet summer atmosphere at any of the famous rose gardens around the country. If a road trip isn't on the card, you can always grow your own rose garden without the green fingers.

Some reasons for Red Rose Day being loved

• Red roses have popular appeal

Whatever your cultural background, the red rose unites us all with its universal symbolism for love, romance, passion, and intrigue. Weddings around the world continue to use red roses in their decorations, bouquets, and gowns - they complement many blushing brides. To this day, giving someone a red rose is an unspoken declaration of love, no matter where in the world you are.

• Roses contribute to raising awareness

Complete with a moving anecdote, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Australia celebrates its own National Red Rose Day (around May), thanks to a mispronunciation by a four-year-old with a similar condition on one's own. In 1965, Mary Weiss volunteered for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of America, when she learned that her three sons had the disease. Her son Richard told his mother she had worked for '65 roses', and thus awareness day was born - '65 roses for cystic fibrosis', with the organization's logo covering it.

• Red roses have many uses

To quote Shakespeare, "A rose with a different name would smell sweet," but we're glad the name has been kept. To think of a red rose is to think of its passionate fragrance; so it's no wonder that rose essence is a popular perfume ingredient. Roses also have medicinal value and are used in cooking and beverages (hello cocktails!).