How Roses Influence Our Life - Today And Through The Years

Who hasn’t drooled over a rose? This universal and much celebrated flower has a fascinating history. The association of roses with love and romance is always evident, however, there’s so much more.

You’ll find roses impact on many areas of your life.

The award for the most extravagant and bizarre use of roses goes to Cleopatra. Hosting a banquet for Mark Antony she covered the floors of her palace with a thick carpet of roses.

Let’s hope the flowers were de-thorned or that Cleo and Tone kept their sandals and clothes on.

In Cleopatra’s boudoir and all around the bed the floor was covered in thick layers of rose petals.

Just as romantic was the mattress filled with rose petals. Unfortunately, I’ve never tried one but it must have been exceptional. After all, we still refer to anything delectable as a bed of roses.

The term English Rose is a term used to define a woman or girl with a traditional and fair complexion who derives from England.

Without doubt, the most memorable English Rose was the late Princess Diana. Who could ever forget Elton’s John’s emotional moment at her funeral service in Westminster Abbey.

Goodbye England's Rose
Goodbye England's Rose.
May you ever grow in our hearts.
You were the grace that placed itself
where lives were torn apart.
You called out to our country,
and you whispered to those in pain.
Now you belong to heaven,

The Romans and Greeks celebrated many euphoric happenings with the rose.

Blooms were scattered beneath the chariot wheels of victorious heroes. The rich and famous had roses engraved on wine goblets.

Traditionally, crowns of roses were placed on the heads of brides and rose petals were showered over the - just married couples.

The Romans used the rose extensively. Successful athletes were showered with roses; surely the origin of the ticker-tape parade?

During a pageant or a feast, rose petals were generously scattered.

Roses were woven into wreaths and draped over tombs.

Wearing a garland of roses was said to prevent intoxication. Don’t try this at home - it definitely doesn’t work! No prizes for guessing how I know.

During orgies, showers of rose petals were scattered to ensure indulgence and exquisite perfume. Presumably this worked but I can’t vouch for it!

While the red rose speaks of true love, a white rose is considered sacred to silence. The Latin: sub rosa, carved or written under a white rose meant - Sworn to secrecy.

If you wanted to spit out a secret you could do so safely, this is where confidential matters could be discussed, and kept under wraps, never to be revealed. This was the place for a good juicy gossip and a distinct reminder never to spill the beans.

I bet it wouldn’t work today.

In a very brief overview of history,between 1455 and 1487 the long tumultuous battles between the warring factions of York and Lancaster were fought. Over the years this became known as the War of the Roses. Red for Lancaster, white for York.

The final victory, now remembered as the Battle of Bosworth Field, was claimed by Lancaster and enabled Henry Tudor to claim the throne.

The county of Lancashire is still known as red rose country with the red rose as the emblem. This is my home county and I identify with it in a most nostalgic way.

Curiously, after all the fighting Henry V11 then married Elizabeth of York and merged the red and white rose - The Tudor Rose.

The rose is a universal flower and surely the most celebrated. Botanical records trace back to past centuries while fossilized remains suggest millions of years.

Here are a several legends handed down the generations.

One myth attributes the first rose to Chloris, the Greek goddess

of flowers. When Chloris discovered the body of a young nymph she transposed her into a beautiful flower. Aphrodite is given credit for the splendour of the rose, while Dionysus added the perfume. .

Another Christian legend suggests the Virgin Mary laid her cloak on the red rosebush. The flowers turned white representing virtuousness.

Another legend suggests the Virgin Mary offered roses to St. Dominic.

His acceptance attributes the gift to the first rosary. Apparently the first rosaries were strings of beads made from rose petals tightly pressed together into beads.

By the early nineteenth century the English used roses to convey desires.

A hopeful suitor would present the one he fancied with a rosebud just about to open. If the lass took it and wore it he was in with a chance.

As the romance progressed, the next step was the gift of half-blown rose. Then came the big one – the full-blown bloom. If this was accepted and worn they were off to the altar.

On the down side a withered white rose suggested you shouldn’t waste any more time. Time to look elsewhere.

A full-blown rose placed over two buds suggested hush-hush. An illicit affair was being kept under wraps.

It seems somewhat unusual to advertise an adulterous liaison while trying to keep it quiet.

Fragrance

Attar of rose is one of the most expensive oils in the world. Again there are stories of how the perfume evolved. This is such a beautiful moment – it’s 1582 in Persia, a wedding feast for a Princess marrying an Emperor. In the garden of the wedding feast a canal was dug around the whole estate.

This was filled with rose-water. It was discovered that the heat of the sun separated the water from the natural rose oil. The exquisite perfume was born.

In distilled form roses have been included in products for medicinal properties and beauty aids for centuries.

Herbal medicine made from rose petals is said to aid stress, sinus congestion, eating disorders, PMS, ailments of the digestive, nausea, depression, swollen eyes and useful as a gargle for sore throats.

Rose essential oil is said to have, antiviral, anti-bacterial anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Often included in cosmetics, particularly as a moisturizer.

Rose water is used in Middle Eastern/Persian cuisine, sweets like Nougat, baklava, marzipan, gumdrops, ice-cream. I’m personally addicted to Rose Turkish delight.

There’s an old adage that stopping to smell the scent of a rose can help with grief, resentment and anger.

Little wonder when life is hectic we are advised to – stop and smell the roses.

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In vine growing regions, I’m always impressed by how beautiful the roses bushes look at the end of each row.

I recently discovered this lovely tradition also has a reason. Roses are susceptible to the same diseases as vines. If a rose bush shows early signs of problems, fungal leaf infection then the viticulturist can treat the vines, eliminating what may have been a forthcoming problem.

Quotations from the Bard

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
Romeo and Juliet (2.2.45-7)

At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.
Love's Labours Lost (1.1)

What, no more ceremony? See, my women!
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
That kneel'd unto the buds.
Antony and Cleopatra (3.13.44-6)

I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks...
Sonnet 130

No more be grieved at that which thou hast done:
Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud;
Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,
And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud.
Sonnet 35

O! how much more doth beauty beauteous seem
By that sweet ornament which truth doth give.
The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem
For that sweet odour, which doth in it live.
The canker blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses,

Sonnet 54

Let’s visit Melbourne, Australia – the first Tuesday in November hails the Melbourne Cup, a respected international horse race.

It’s not just for horses and punters.

Flemington racecourse boasts the largest public Rose Garden in the Southern Hemisphere.

Despite Melbourne’s traditionally unpredictable weather, the roses are always perfect for the week long carnival.

In distilled form roses have been included in products for medicinal properties and beauty aids for centuries.

Herbal medicine made from rose petals is said to aid stress,

sinus-congestion, eating disorders, PMS, ailments of the digestive, nausea, depression, swollen eyes and useful as a gargle for sore throats.

Rose essential oil is said to have, antiviral, anti bacterial, anti depressant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Often included in cosmetics, particularly as a moisturizer or perfume.

Rose water is used in Middle Eastern/Persian cuisine, sweets like nougat, baklava, marzipan, gumdrops, ice-cream. I’m personally addicted to Rose Turkish delight.

There’s more – rose hips are used for tea, jam, jelly, syrup, they have a high vitamin C content and are considered an antioxidant.

There’s an old adage that stopping to smell the scent of a rose can help with worry, resentment and anger.

Little wonder when life is hectic we are advised to – stop and smell the roses.

The ancient Romans grew large rose gardens thought to be as important as orchards, crops and wheat.

Moonlight and Roses

Room full of roses

Roses are red my love,

The Rose

Yellow Rose of Texas

Two Dozen Roses

The Colour of Roses

Bed of Roses

Two Dozen Roses

Roses are Red

Paper Roses

The Last Rose of summer

Sweet Kentucky Rose

Where the wild roses grow

Tokyo Rose

Days of Wine and Roses

There are over 110 species of roses and many thousands of cultivars, far too many to document here.

I hope you have roses in your life – put on your rose coloured specs and tell your stories.