Roses

Rosaceae family

  • Includes apple, quince, strawberries, blackberries (Jackson & Perkins)

Origins

  • Believed in Persia (Dickerson)

Ancient Greece

  • 800 B.C., Homer mentions the rose in Iliad - used in an analogy to liken the coloration of the rising sun (Dickerson)
  • 600 B.C., Greek poet Sappho dubbed the rose "The Queen of Flowers" (Hessayon)
  • Greeks thought to be the first to cultivate roses in the garden (Hessayon)
  • Frequent use in sacrifices, public ceremonies, & meals (Dickerson)
  • Greek Isles of Rhodes - ancient Greek word for rose - named that because of the quantity of roses grown there (Dickerson)
  • Dominated over life & art, poetry & literature - replacing the lotus, that was coveted by the Egyptians (Goody)
  • Symbol of luxury, but also carries a message of warning about life itself (every rose had its thorn) (Goody)
  • Roses used to honor the dead (Goody)
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Ancient Rome

  • Romans took the Greek's fondness of the rose to a level of worship
  • used in food, wine, perfumes, medicines (Hessayon)
  • Used in civic celebrations & bridal couples wore crowns of roses during wedding ceremony (Jackson & Perkins)
  • Would import roses from Egypt during the winter months (Hessayon)
  • During time of Nero, would grow them in heated conservatories - first time noted that greenhouses were used for the forced cultivation of plants. (Dickerson)
  • Brought to Britain during the height of the Roman empire (Hessayon)
  • Symbol of Beauty, modesty, decency, innocence (Dickerson)
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China

  • Chou Dynasty (1122 - 221 B.C.) used for perfumes, petals used for personal adornment & protection from evil spirits. (Hessayon)
  • Used for adorning Buddhist shrines & honoring ancestors - * Never used as a gift for the living (Goody)
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India

  • Ancient kingdom of Kashmir distilled rose oil for perfume "attar of roses"(Hessayon)
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Early Christian Church & Jews

  • Rejected the rose - thought of as a pagan symbol (Goody)
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Medieval Europe

  • Regained popularity within the Christian church, especially during the Crusades, which increased trade with the east (Hessayon)
  • Rosaries made from rose hips, appearance of circular windows in churches designed in the pattern of a rose blooms, in paintings, murals, fabrics, and other architecture (Hessayon)
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Rose Color Symbols

  • RELIGION - Christianity (Goody)
    • Red Rose - agape, rather than eros
    • White Rose - Virgin Mary
  • VICTORIAN TIMES (Jackson & Perkins)
    • Red - romantic love or desire
    • Pink - Affection or friendship
    • White - Purity or virtue
    • Yellow - Jealousy or congrats on perfect achievement
  • EARLY 1900's AMERICA (Goody)
    • Devised by an Italian florist in West Haven, CT to assist customers on purchasing roses, & to maximize his profits.
    • Red - I love you forever
    • White - innocence, purity, loyalty
    • Pink - Perfect happiness
    • Yellow - I'm sorry…disappointed
  • FRANCE

Researched and written by Patricia Lazos.

REFERENCES

  • Dickerson, Brent C. The Old Rose Adventurer. Portland, OR: Timber Press. 1999
  • Dunn, Terri, et al. Jackson & Perkins Beautiful Roses Made Easy. Nashville, TN: Cool Spring Press. 2004
  • Goody, Jack. The Culture of Flowers. Cambridge University Press. 1999
  • Hessayon, Dr. D.G. The Rose Expert. New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. 1996.