What Is the Significance of Valentine’s Day Flowers?
Valentine’s Day can be traced back to the 3rd Century in Rome where the Romans executed a priest who was named Valentinus. Due to his religious prosecution, he became to be known as Saint Valentine, which led to the celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The first references to Valentine’s Day took place during the 14th and 15th Centuries in England. Mid-February was associated with the start of the season when birds would look for suitable mates. The English modified the celebration of Saint Valentine to alter Valentine’s Day by sending love letters to each other in Mid-February in hopes of finding a suitable spouse.
When men wrote their love letters and sent them, they started sending flowers with their letters. Flowers in vibrant reds, pinks, and whites were often sent. Some men even sent flowers anonymously with a secret note attached. The note asked, “Will you be me Valentine?”
The tradition of sending your beloved Valentine’s Day flowers is still immensely popular to this day. We even still include notes with flowers asking if someone will be our Valentine or other sayings declaring our love for the recipient.
Over the years, Valentine’s Day traditions continued to evolve in change. With the invention of confectionary candies, food dyes, and printing presses, it resulted in the first Valentine’s Day candies being made in 1866 – those popular candy hearts with various sayings.
Chocolates became part of Valentine’s Day in the 17th Century in England and eventually made their way to North America in the 19th Century. Cadbury Chocolate was the first chocolatier to create a heart-shaped box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in 1861.
Even though Valentine’s Day traditions have changed, one thing has remained constant – the sending of flowers. Flowers signify romance and love when given on Valentine’s Day. Furthermore, when sending flowers became associated with Valentine’s Day, each color had a specific meaning, so it was possible to convey one’s feelings in a nonverbal manner.
Some of the typical meanings for various colors include:
- Red – Red means a deep love for another. Therefore, red roses are a popular flower choice associated with Valentine’s Day.
- White – White means purity and innocence. Men looking for a young bride who was pure of heart and innocent would send white flowers to the intended.
- Pink – Pink means admiration. It is common to send pink flowers to someone you secretly admire on Valentine’s Day.
- Purple – Purple is associated with love at first sight and enchantment. If you feel immediately in love with your partner, then sending them purple flowers on Valentine’s Day is a great choice.
- Yellow – Yellow is associated with friendship. When people want to send flowers to close friends on Valentine’s Day, they will normally send yellow roses, carnations, or other such flowers.
It is also acceptable to use a combination of colors, like red roses and white roses to signify a deep love for someone who is pure and innocent. To further highlight the stunning beauty of the flowers, arrangements can also include some greenery.
To find Valentine’s Day flowers and gifts for your loved one, please feel free to browse our selections at Bloomen. You may also contact us directly at (844) 256-6636 if you have further questions or would like to send a custom floral bouquet in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and North York.