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This Valentine's Day, you could go with the expected choice and order a bouquet of a dozen long-stemmed (and over-priced) red roses. Or, you could do a bit of research, and pick a flower that truly conveys your feelings for your special someone.
The meanings of many of the blooms we love date back to Victorian times; people were big on conveying their feelings through symbols instead of words, and flowers were a large part of that. Some of those meanings have evolved, but we still strongly associate certain blooms with particular sentiments; there is a reason why some flowers are endearingly popular, despite their price or seasonal availability, and it's not always simply because of how they look.
1. Red Roses: Red roses are a Valentine's Day classic for a good reason — they represent love and romance, and they have been a powerful symbol for many cultures through the ages. So if you're buying that bouquet of ruby roses, make sure you can stand behind their strong sentiment! A darker red bloom just intensifies the meaning; these are great roses to give along with an engagement ring.
2. White Roses: White roses were the traditional first choice for true love, though they've now been overtaken by pink. They are also often used in weddings because of their representation of purity and innocence (the same reason most wedding dresses are white). But many people associate white blooms with sympathy and death, so they're not the wisest choice for this holiday.
3. Yellow Roses: These roses are a great choice for your buddy, as they represent friendship, but they might send the wrong message to a paramour (exception: yellow roses with a red tip represent friendship blossoming into romance). But we see nothing wrong with giving flowers to your bestie on February 14! Yellow roses also represent cheer and are a good "Get Well Soon" choice.