Red Roses

A red rose traditionally symbolises love, particularly passionate or new love, and also love that is headstrong and overwelming.

This symbolism stems back to Greek and Roman: Venus / Aphrodite loved Adonis, but was also pursued by Mars / Ares. Ares planned to slay Adonis, but Aphrodite warned her lover of the intent and he escaped. During her rush to save her lover Aphrodite tripped and cut her leg on the thorns of a rose bush and her blood stained the flower red.

Often a single red rose is given to a lover to signify how unique and special that person is. The person is not one rose in a bunch, but singular and unique.

Red roses in bloom also stand for respect and courage, where as red rosebuds mean “pure and lovely”.