As Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on us, we get so many customers asking us why roses are so popular on Valentine’s Day. Besides being romantic, there is quite a bit of history that surrounds roses and Valentine’s Day. So far back actually, that we have to take it back to the 17^th century just to tell you about it!

The History of Valentine’s Day Roses

Valentine’s Day roses started during the reign of King Charles II of Sweden in the 17^th century. It is said that he was introduced to the beauty and art of flowers when he was visiting Persia. While there, he was able to learn about the different varieties of flowers and the meanings behind them. Flowers have extraordinary meanings behind them. That is why when you are giving the gift of flowers, it’s important to know their meanings. The red rose symbolizes a deep love for someone, which is why it has made its way to being the most popular flower on Valentine’s Day. As well as why King Charles II chose it when creating this tradition on Valentine’s Day.

How did the red rose get this meaning of deep love? This dates to Greek mythology and the goddess of love, Aphrodite.  According to Greek mythology, red rose bushes grew from Aphrodite’s tears and her lovers, Adonis, blood. When the Romans turned Aphrodite into the goddess Venus it was decided to keep the red rose as a symbol of her love and beauty. This meaning clearly has stuck with the rose and is why the red rose is still the most popular flower on Valentine’s Day, and any day really. We don’t think the people in King Charles II time expected that the floral industry would now be racking in $2 billion or more on flowers each Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Now

Honestly, not too much has changed since Valentine’s Day first started. Valentine’s day has always been a holiday surrounded by lots of love and romance. The history of Valentine’s Day has always talked about it being a special holiday meant for small gifts and love notes, mostly which were homemade. As times have changed, we have seen these homemade gifts and love notes evolve into greeting cards and heart shaped boxes of chocolates. However, the meaning of Valentine’s Day has always stayed the same.

While some think it’s a corny holiday, many around the world love this day and take the time to celebrate it, sometimes even for an entire weekend! From Valentine’s Day greeting cards between friends, Galentine’s Day brunch with your girlfriends, to engagements on Valentine’s Day we have seen it all. Between roses and cards, it’s hard to tell what people enjoy more during this special time. According to Hallmark, approximately 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year- and that doesn’t even include the pre-packaged cards that your kids use in their classes!

At Petals and Pinot, we love Valentine’s Day! We love being able to help you show that special someone just how much you love them and appreciate them. From two dozen gorgeous red roses to customized floral arrangements, we know how to do Valentine’s Day. For many men, it’s hard to know just what to get their special someone which is where we come in hand. If you’re looking for something already done and ready, you can visit our shop or order on-line to have an arrangement delivered to your sweetheart. We also offer our Buds & Brews class that gives you the chance to design a one-of-a-kind arrangement just for her. Not only is this a fun way to get you and the guys together, but it also makes for a great gift that you’ve created just for her. You can also check out our Valentine’s Day gift guide to see what other great gifts there are! When preparing for Valentine’s Day, we highly encourage you to plan ahead. Pre-order your flowers and make a dinner reservation early before things are booked. For all of your Valentine’s Day needs, let Petals & Pinot help you! We want to make sure you have the best holiday with your loved one!