We and roses. It seems that these flowers have always been around. They grow in the gardens of our grandmothers, adorn the windowsills of city apartments, lie on the counters of florist shops. They are given on the first date and on the wedding anniversary, on birthdays and at funerals. But what really connects us to these thorny beauties? Why did humanity choose the rose as its companion among thousands of flower species? Let's try to take a look at this century-old union.

The History of One Love

The first roses appeared on Earth 40 million years ago. People "tamed" them about five thousand years ago in Ancient China and Persia. But true devotion began in the Roman Empire: the beds of the patricians were strewn with rose petals, they adorned triumphal processions. In the Middle Ages, the church tried to fight against the "pagan" flower, but failed — the rose became the symbol of the Virgin Mary. Since then, it has firmly settled in our culture, art, and daily life. We weave it into coats of arms, write poems about it, even name entire architectural styles in its honor (rococo — from the word "rocaille" — shell, but roses were also there). Today, more than 10 billion roses are sold worldwide. And this is only of cut flowers.

What We Seek in the Rose

Why do we give roses? Because in them we see perfection. The perfect shape, a delicate aroma, a multitude of shades — from pristine white to almost black. The rose expresses what is difficult to say in words. Red — "I love you," white — "you are innocent," yellow — "we are friends." But this is only the tip of the iceberg. The rose is also a challenge. The thorns remind us that beauty often comes at a price. We enter into a dialogue with the flower when we take it in our hands, not afraid of being pricked. There is some deep truth in this: we want the beautiful, but we are not afraid of difficulties. Or we are afraid, but overcome our fear.

Rose in Our Lives: From the Garden to the Emoji

We grow roses. For some, it's a hobby, for others, a business, for others, therapy. To watch as a green shoot turns into a bud that then explodes in color — is this not a miracle? We prune the bushes, fight off aphids, cover them for the winter. And when after a harsh winter we see the first leaf, our hearts stop. We also consume roses: jam from petals, pink water for baking, essential oil for aromatherapy. Even our smartphones have a rose emoji —
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