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Red rose -

In Greek mythology, the creation of the red rose is said to stem from Aphrodite. The Goddess of Love stumbled across her lover Adonis, who'd been wounded by a wild animal. After the two embraced, a mixture of her tears and his blood produced a beautiful red rose bush.

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Rosalia -

In antiquity, the Romans celebrated the rose each May with a festival known as Rosalia, or Rosatio. Essentially a commemoration of the dead, the Rosalia developed from the custom of placing flowers at burial sites, the blooms seen as traditional symbols of rejuvenation, rebirth, and memory.

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The rose and the Virgin Mary -

Following the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the rose became identified with the Virgin Mary. Pictured is the center panel of the Ortenberg Altarpiece, c. 1410-1420. The Virgin and Child are seen surrounded by saints Anne, Elizabeth, Mary Cleophas, Mary Salome, Agnes (with lamb), Barbara (with castle), Dorothy (with roses) and St. Anne's sister, Ismeria. The children are Christ's cousins.

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Rosary -

The rose symbol led to the creation of the rosary, a string of knots or beads used to count the component prayers used by the Roman Catholic Church.

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War of the Roses -

The rival factions in the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) were asked to pick either red or white roses to symbolize their allegiance to the House of Lancaster (red rose) or the House of York (white rose).

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Tudor rose -

The Tudor rose is the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England. It takes its name from the House of Tudor, which united the House of Lancaster and the House of York after the bloody War of the Roses. Pictured is a Tudor rose carved into the fireplace in the lower hall of the keep at Dover Castle in Kent, England. The Tudor rose is made up of five white inner petals and five red outer petals.

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Rosé wine -

The production and consumption of rosé wine dates back to the Phoenicians, c. 1550 BCE–300 BCE, and the ancient Greeks, c. 600 BCE.

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Rose oil -

Rose oil is the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of rose. Highly valued, rose oils are the most widely used essential oil in perfumery. Production of rose oil dates back to ancient Persia.

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Rose perfume -

Two major species of rose are cultivated for the production of rose oil: Rosa damascena, the damask rose, and Rosa centifolia, the cabbage rose. The damask rose is widely grown in Bulgaria, Syria, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Iran, and China. The cabbage rose, meanwhile, is more commonly cultivated in Morocco, France, and Egypt.

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Floral emblem of the USA -

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose the floral emblem of the United States. Six US states have also adopted the rose as their official bloom: Georgia (Cherokee rose); Iowa and North Dakota (wild prairie rose); New York (rose in any or combination of colors); and Oklahoma (Oklahoma rose).

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White Rose -

Pictured are German students Hans Scholl (1918–1943) and his sister Sophie (1921–1943). Both were members of the non-violent White Rose, a youth movement formed to resist the Nazis. Both were executed by the regime for high treason.

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Peace and love -

John Lennon pictured with a red rose during the Amsterdam Bed-in for Peace protest that took place from March 25–31, 1969. As a member of the Beatles, Lennon wrote a number of songs promoting peace and love, including 'All You Need is Love' and 'Give Peace a Chance.'

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Rose hip -

We use rose hip, the fruit of various species of rose plant, in tea, syrup, jam, soup, and wine, among other foodstuffs and beverages.

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Natural remedy -

Historically, rose hips have been used as a natural remedy for many diseases and ailments. They may be useful for preventing and treating colds, flu, and vitamin C deficiencies. Rose hips are also used for stomach disorders including stomach spasms, stomach acid deficiency, preventing stomach irritation, and ulcers. And they may also help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and osteoarthritis pain.

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Rose petal jam -

Rose petal jam is made with wild rose petals. The petals are simmered in water for about 10 minutes before the addition of other ingredients.

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Turkish delight -

The most common ingredient in traditional varieties of Turkish delight is rosewater. The confection is said to have originated in Constantinople in the mid-18th century.

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Rose petals -

Got tired feet? Give them a break in a rose petal foot soak. The essential oil derived from roses has many natural properties that make it especially well suited for rejuvenating and replenishing skin.

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English rose -

An "English rose" is broadly defined as a nostalgic idea of a beautiful and elegant young English lady. Several British actresses, for example Keira Knightley, have been described as English roses.

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Rose jewelry -

The late Queen Elizabeth II, pictured in 2007, is seen wearing her Nizam of Hyderabad rose brooch during a church service in King's Lynn in the English county of Norfolk. Her Majesty was known for her stylish fashion sense and keen eye for accessory detail. The rose brooch, one of three, originally formed the centerpiece of a diamond floral tiara.

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White House Rose Garden -

In 1913, First Lady Ellen Wilson established the Rose Garden at the White House. It's commonly used as a stage for receptions and media events due to its proximity to the building. The garden is pictured in 1963 in all its blooming glory.

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Rose Bowl -

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, is an outdoor athletic stadium. Opened in October 1922, the Rose Bowl is one of the most famous venues in sporting history and is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

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Rose-tinted glasses -

To look at a person or situation through rose-tinted glasses is to see only their good points, and therefore your view of them is unrealistic. The idiom is most probably derived from the word rosy, which came into use during the latter half of the 1700s to describe an unduly idealistic, optimistic, sentimental, or wistful perspective on or about something.

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Rose robin -

Native to Australia, the rose robin is so-named for the distinctive pink breast feathers of the male.

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Rosewood -

Rosewood is any of several ornamental timbers, products of various tropical trees native to Brazil, Honduras, Jamaica, Africa, and India. Pictured is a 1840 William IV-style rosewood drum table covered with old rose-colored double-primed leather.

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Guns N' Roses -

Formed in 1985, American hard rock band Guns N' Roses came by their name as an amalgamation of two previous bands, Hollywood Rose and L.A. Guns. Front man Axl Rose's real name meanwhile is William Bruce Rose Jr.

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The Stone Roses -

English rock band the Stone Roses, one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was named by its members as a tribute to legendary rock band the Rolling Stones. It was also the idea that it would be a combination of both the hardness of stone and the softness of roses.

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'Broadway Danny Rose' (1984) -

In this movie, Woody Allen is Danny Rose, a hapless talent agent who tries to boost the career of a client but instead becomes embroiled in a love triangle involving the mob. Mia Farrow costars.

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'The Name of the Rose' (1986) -

Based on the novel of the same name by Umberto Eco, 'The Name of the Rose' follows Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (Sean Connery), who's called upon to solve a deadly mystery in a remote medieval abbey.

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'Rambling Rose' (1991) -

Laura Dern is Rose, an orphan who is hired by a Southern family during the Great Depression. While in the employ of the household, Rose begins to develop feelings for the father of the family (Robert Duvall).

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'La Vie en rose' (2007) -

This biographical musical film about the life of French singer Édith Piaf stars Marion Cotillard as the country's national chanteuse.

Sources: (State Symbols USA) (The White Rose Project) (Healthline) (The Court Jeweller) (Radio X)

See also: Understanding the language of flowers

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