Rose Day Date in the current year: February 7, 2024

Roses are woody flowering perennial plants that make up the genus Rosa; the term also refers to the flowers these plants bear. There are more than 300 species of roses, and tens of thousands of rose hybrids and cultivars that are grown for their beauty and often fragrance. Roses are primarily grown as ornamental and landscape plants; they are also a popular crop for cut flowers and perfumery.

Humankind has grown roses since ancient times, and the flower has acquired a symbolic meaning in various cultures. The most common associations with roses include love, beauty, and royalty. In ancient Greece, for example, roses were associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Following the advent of Christianity, roses became associated with the Virgin Mary and divine, pure love.

In modern culture, red roses are a common symbol of romantic and passionate love. A red rose is a flower you give to your romantic interest to clearly state your intentions. White roses, on the other hand, can be gifted to a friend because they indicate an absence of romantic feelings. These associations stem from traditional color symbolism in Western culture: red is traditionally associated with passion, while white is associated with innocence, virtue and purity.

Other colors of roses also have a symbolic meaning. For example, pink roses are associated with romantic love like red roses, but they imply a lesser degree of affection. They are a great gift early in a relationship, when you’re not sure yet whether your feelings are deep enough for red roses. Yellow roses stand for devotion and friendship.

Since red roses are an instantly recognizable symbol of romantic love and passion in many cultures around the globe, roses and rose bouquets are one of the most popular Valentine’s Day presents. Sales of roses, especially red ones, skyrocket during Valentine’s week, so it is not surprising that someone came up with the idea to celebrate the first day of Valentine’s week as Rose Day.

The origins of Rose Day are unclear, but we can’t think of a more fitting way to kick off Valentine’s week and start the countdown until Valentine’s Day. There are many ways to celebrate this amazing holiday. The most obvious ones are to learn more about the symbolism of roses and the messages that roses of different colors can convey and to give roses to the people you love (remember that not all love is romantic and not all colors of roses are associated with romantic feelings).

There are less on-the-nose ways to celebrate Rose Day as well. For example, you can buy rose-scented skincare or perfume as a gift for your loved one or yourself, treat yourself to a rose-flavored dessert or drink, plant roses in your garden or try growing roses in a pot, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtag #RoseDay.