The national flower of Slovakia is Rose (Rosa) among all the flowers, the rose is one of the most known and most loved. As William Shakespeare wrote, “What’s in a name? What we call a national flower of Slovakia is Rose (Rosa) under another name would feel as good. Roses have been venerated for centuries. Historical data shows that they were grown in China about 5000 years ago and have continued to play a role in history since then.
Meaning of the Rose
The rose has many meanings that vary according to its color. Nevertheless, it is generally considered that the rose symbolizes:
- love
- The honor
- The faith
- The beauty
- The balance
- Passion
- Wisdom
- The plot
- The devotion
- The sensuality
- timelessness
National Flower of Slovakia Significance
The rose-hips of some species are very rich in vitamin C. It is for this reason that the fruit is often used to make jams, jelly, or that it is infused for tea. Rose worms also have minor medicinal uses and can be used as an antidepressant, aphrodisiac, and antibacterial, among others. They are used in food supplements and can be pressed or filtered to make rose hip syrup. Rose hound seed oil is also used in dermatological products and makeup products.
Do you know Jasmine is National Flower of Pakistan ?
Symbolic of the Rose
Rose is often associated with numerology. In the art of the Renaissance, an eight-petal led rose was a message of rebirth and renewal. In alchemical texts and art, a rose with seven petals was a symbol of universal integration, comprehension and order. There is also the association pink / numerology in Freemasonry, where each of the three roses is the symbol of a guiding principle: Love, Life and Light.
In Mythology, the rose is associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, which has often been depicted with roses around her head, feet and neck. It is also said that a rosebush has grown in the heart of Adonis’ blood pool, the murdered lover of Aphrodite. In Christian mythology, it is also said that a rosebush would have grown on the site of the death of Christ.
In the Tarot, rose is considered a symbol of balance. It expresses promise, renewal, and hope. Its thorns represent defense, materiality, loss, carelessness. In the major arcana the rose appears on the cards of Magician, Force, Death and Mad. All these cards contain strong values of balance and harmony.
In the classical period, the rose was devoted to certain goddesses, including Isis. The ancient Greeks and Romans also identified the rose to the goddesses of love, namely Aphrodite and Venus, respectively. In Rome a wild rose was placed on the door of a room where secret or confidential discussions took place. The expression sub Rosa, or “under the rose,” which means keeping a secret, derives from this ancient Roman practice.
The medieval Christians associated the five petals of the rose with the five wounds of Christ. The rose was later associated with the Virgin Mary and was eventually adopted as a symbol of the blood of the Christian martyrs. A bouquet of red roses is offered on Valentine’s Day, which is the day when the Christian Saint Valentine is celebrated.
Closer to home, in 1986, it was designated floral emblem of the United States, and is the flower of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is also the emblem blossom of 4 American states, namely: Iowa, North Dakota, Georgia, and New York.
All the roses have a round and symmetrical shape in the middle and bottom of their vertical axis. Rose petals have various shapes, ranging from pointed cone to rounded tear. Some are flat while others have curved edges up or down. The roses exist in a wide range of colors and in many shades within the same color. The petals can be two-tone or tricolor and bloom in almost all colors except blue and black. Other interesting information about the rose:
- There are more than 100 species of roses.
- For hundreds of years, rose has been widely recognized as a symbol of love, sympathy or sadness.
- The fruit of the rose is called cynorrhodon. This kind of berry is usually red but can also be dark violet or black.
- The tips on the stem of the rose bush are generally called “spines”. However, in reality, they are technically brambles.
Meaning of the Colors of the Rose
The color of a rose also affects its meaning. Each color has a distinct and different meaning. Here are some of the meanings commonly associated with each color.
The Message of the Rose
Whether for the ancient Greeks or Romans, Christians, Freemasons or others, rose has always been a timeless symbol of love, beauty and balance. Of course, each color expresses love, beauty and balance a little differently, but the main message is still and always love.
