The Red Rose is symbol of romantic love and passion worldwide. In the modern day ritual of Valentine's Day, literally millions of roses are delivered as gifts to express romantic love. The red rose has been iconic for centuries, so what are the origins of the meanings associated with red roses?

In the 18th Century, the giving of flowers came to be utilized as a kind of social code in many societies. It was considered unseemly to make overt protestations of affection, and this resulted in the custom of giving flowers as a mechanism to express unspoken feelings of romantic love to develop. Such gifts could be received, and the meaning would be understood, and the whole process could be viewed publicly ? without causing a scandal.

Since then, the red rose as a universal symbol of true, undying and timeless love has been reinforced in popular culture the world over, in theatre, literature and movies.

In both ancient Roman and ancient Greek mythology, the red rose was associated with the goddesses of love, Venus and Aphrodite, respectively. In Greek legend, the story goes that Aphrodite was admiring a white rose one day, when she inadvertently pricked her finger on a thorn ? it was the spillage of her blood that changed the colour of the white rose to red.

The connection between the red rose and the divine representation of love was manifest in many other early civilisations, who incorporated red roses into wedding ceremonies. The red rose would later come to symbolise several different aspects of Christianity. The five wounds of Christ, the blood of the martyrs, and the Virgin Mary have all been associated with or represented by the red rose.

The red rose symbolises desire, the physical longing attached to passionate romantic love. These feelings, associated with the burning desire of new love, make the red rose a powerful symbol. The giving of the red rose on Valentine's Day between established couples signifies fidelity, and enduring passion within the relationship.

In addition, red roses are often used to symbolise courage, and are also a common gift of congratulations. Red roses can also represent power. As more traditional romantic gifts, the early rose bud symbolises the innocent love of youth, while the mature rose in full bloom is the perfect gift for anniversaries to celebrate the ongoing success of a relationship.

There are many flowers, as well as roses, that can send a message that is hard to put into words. Gone are the days when it was necessary to visit a florist in person to secure the perfect bunch of flowers, thanks to the healthy market of suppliers like Interflora who deliver flowers online. Have a look at the websites of such suppliers for to get an idea of what is available.

Maricruz Tennill, the author of this article, has worked in the flower industry for many years. Interflora is the best service that allow you to deliver flowers online.