Since time immemorial, the rose has been the epitome of beauty, love and passion. Simonne Pace finds out why the queen of flowers has earned its place at the very top.

Can you remember the last time you got a bouquet of flowers? I certainly do, and if you do too, then you are a woman in the truest sense of the word.

Consumer research by the Michael Cohen Group shows that 92 per cent of women can remember the last time they received flowers and 89 per cent say receiving flowers makes them feel special.

The special thing with flowers is that they touch a person’s heart straight away. In a study by a team of researchers at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, it was proven that flowers have an immediate impact on happiness, a long-term positive effect on moods and make intimate connections.

But why are roses so much more famous than any other flowers? This is because throughout the centuries, roses have been used to communicate messages of love, friendship and admiration. The rose has been a favourite flower of poets since poetry began. There you have it.

US President Barack Obama himself speaks from the White House Rose Garden when he has an important message to put across to the nation.

The great Roman leader Marc Antony met Egyptian queen Cleopatra in a room that was filled knee-deep in rose petals. The Romans outdid the Greeks when Nero, their hedonistic emperor, dumped tons of rose petals on his dinner guests. Newly-married couples were also often crowned with roses.

After a war, brave Roman soldiers would return to be showered with rose petals by the civilians eagerly awaiting their return. Rose petals were also often dropped in wine in Roman times because it was thought that the essence of roses would stave off drunkenness.

The rose has a long history, dating back to ancient civilisations. Ancient Egyptian graves are known to have petrified roses and, even before human time, rose fossils have been discovered in Europe.

Some religious documents make reference to roses as a symbol of the blood of Christian martyrs who died for their faith.

The Romans adopted the rose as a symbol of love, secrecy and beauty. Roman dining-rooms were displayed with roses, reminding guests to keep secret what had been said during dinner.

600 to 700 bouquets are prepared in the run-up to Valentine’s Day

Roses were also part of Greek mythology, said to be created by Aphrodite when shedding tears and the blood of her lover Adonis. In Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare asks: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden, writes: “Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.”

In Victorian times, long before the tradition of hanging out and getting drinks was introduced, suitors had to be extremely careful about how and where they approached a lady. There weren’t any outright flirtations at the time and small bouquets of flowers were sent to quietly speak of deep and secret feelings.

“Traditionally, people ask for roses on Valentine’s Day, the most popular being the red rose, symbolising passionate love,” says florist Aldo Muscat, one of the owners of Lewis Micallef Co. Ltd, better known as Il-Qronfla.

“Bouquets of six or 12 roses, as well as roses, accompanying soft toys or balloons are the most popular. Tulips are next in line, followed by mixed bouquets which include roses,” he adds.

The florist, who grew up in the business with his late father Philip and his brother Patrick, says Valentine’s Day was first celebrated in Malta about 50 years ago by the British Services, who used to organise a ball for the occasion at Lascaris, while the tradition of sending flowers to say “I love you” started about 30 years ago.

“For this special occasion, we supplied the British Services with a heart arrangement made of red carnations and other loose flowers,” Mr Muscat reminisces.

“Celebrating Valentine’s Day has become more popular over the years, making the event one of the busiest days on a florist’s calendar.”

Author of Flower Power and TV host Rebecca Cole says: “If the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then the pathway to a woman’s heart is through her other senses.”

Local florist Prentiss Zammit, who runs F. Zammit Garden Centre in Qormi, admits that it’s mostly men who order red roses for their women and not vice-versa. The very few women who do order flowers for their better halves, order blue roses, which they prefer to give personally on the actual day rather than have them delivered. The florist pointed out that there are actually no blue roses but white roses dyed blue.

With 5,000 roses imported just for Valentine’s Day, Mr Zammit says roses are still a favourite with people, with about 600 to 700 bouquets being prepared in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, from bouquets of two roses up to 50 and even 100.

So if you’re thinking of buying roses any time soon, just give your gesture a bit more thought. Think of Cupid, son of Venus, getting stung by a bee and accidentally shooting arrows into a rose garden.

Let yourself be transported into a world of mythological illusion. Believe, even if for a second, that the sting of Cupid’s arrows caused the roses to grow thorns and that when Venus walked through the garden and pricked her foot, her blood turned the roses red.

Buying a rose suddenly turns from a mere cliché into an exciting adventure that is full of colour and imagination.

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