The Meaning Of Valentine’s Day Symbols

There are a number of traditions associated with a popular celebration like Valentine’s Day.  Just like other annual occasions, so many of us go about our business and follow traditions without really understanding why we do the things we do.  Every year, florists are inundated with orders for Valentine’s Day flowers and stores sell all sorts of romantic gifts like chocolates, jewellery and perfume.

When many of us think of Valentine’s Day, one of the first things that comes to mind is the sweet smell of fresh red roses.  The question is, why are red roses so special and such a popular choice as opposed to other flowers for Valentine’s Day?  Well, the answer is quite simple.  Many years ago, people needed a way of sending messages to each other and, in order to do just that, they adopted the “language of flowers”.  Every flower had its very own special meaning and, in many cases, the colour of the flower also determined the more precise meaning.  According to this language of flowers, roses symbolise various forms of affections and love.  The meaning of red roses, in particular, is one of passion and a deep, romantic kind of love.  Seeing as though Valentine’s Day is the day of love, it is understandable that the flower of choice is the red rose.

Over time, Valentine’s Day has become so much more than a day for lovers.  It’s also a great time to celebrate friendship and other important relationships in your life.  If you are looking for a floral gift for a friend, yellow roses symbolise friendship and are sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Apart from the strong presence of flowers and floral themes everywhere, you will also notice the prominent Cupid theme.  As he flies through the sky with his bow and arrow, he is waiting for that perfect moment to target a lonely heart.  There are a number of Cupid stories and tales about his parents.  Both the Ancient Romans and Greeks believed different myths surrounding the same character and, because of this, many different stories developed.  According to most myths, however, the belief is that Cupid’s mother was a goddess of love and, even today, it is believed that Cupid aims to shoot people in the heart so that he can help them fall in love.

Another important part of any Valentine’s Day flower delivery and gift is the card or romantic note that accompanies it.  We have all gotten quite used to writing a sweet message of love and finishing it off with a bunch of X’s at the end.,  What most people don’t realise is why the letter X is associated with a kiss and the story is quite interesting.  Many years ago, people were fairly illiterate and they would often sign a document simply by marking it with an X.  In addition, they would then demonstrate their commitment to the document by kissing the X.

Now that you understand where some of the most popular Valentine’s Day symbols come from, you can practice them with full knowledge of exactly what they mean and how they came about.  When planning to send flowers for this romantic occasion, don’t forget to browse through all the arrangements with red roses and finish your romantic message of love with a sweet kiss!  Most important of all is to enjoy this day and have fun in true Cupid style!