Why Do We Give Roses on Valentine’s Day? Ever thought about this? While many people think it’s because red is the color of love, some might wonder if red, why only rose? And to answer that question, here I come!
Well, there is a tale explaining this flower and its relation to this day. Two remarkable Greek mythological stories explain why a red rose is the most prominent choice on Valentine’s Day. In this article, I’m going to make you aware of both stories. So let’s get going!
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Valentine’s Day 2024: Why Do We Give Roses on Valentine’s Day?
Roses are admired for their beauty, fragrance, and the wide range of colors they come in. However, the history of this flower can be traced back to ancient Greece. In Greek mythology, it is said that the goddess of love, Aphrodite, created the first rose. She made it from her tears and the blood of her lover, Adonis.
From the Blood of The Goddess of Love
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is known for giving the red rose its color. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite had an affair with a beautiful mortal named Adonis. When she gets to know that Adonis will be killed during a boar hunt, she tries to stop him, but he dies. Aphrodite then takes a drop of his blood that fell on the soil underneath and grows a flower out of it, a rose.
Another alternate plot says that while she was running to Adonis to save him, she was stung by a thorn, and it was from her blood that a white rose turned red, so the red rose came into existence.
The Dark History of Adonis’ Birth
Aphrodite was jealous of Adonis’s mother, Myrrha, who was also his sister. Myrrha’s enchanting beauty made Aphrodite so mad that she cursed her to lust over her father(King Cinyrus of Cyprus). As a result, she became pregnant. When King Cinyrus came to know about the whole matter, he decided to assassinate the girl and her child.
Aphrodite realizes her mistake and turns Myrrha into a tree to save her life, and she gives birth to Adonis as a tree.
Read the entire mythology here.
Why Do We Give Roses on Valentine’s Day? Victorian Era Context
The Victorian era, 19th Century, was full of symbolism. In this era, colors, objects, and even words were given symbolic meanings. The color red was designated as the symbol of love but also rage. However, to date, the red rose is a symbol of romantic love, and thus, it is given to the lover.
So, Why Do We Give Roses on Valentine’s Day?
The final answer to the question, “Why do we give roses on Valentine’s Day?” is because the flower is believed to have been born out of love. A love that brought the dead Adonis back to life.
ALSO READ: History of Valentine’s Day: A Tale of Love and Sacrifice