The History of Valentine’s Day Flowers

The history of Valentine's Day dates back to ancient Rome, during the third century. A young priest named Valentine defied the orders of the Emperor Claudius II, who forbade his soldiers to marry, and performed marriages in secret for those in love. Valentine was put into prison for his actions, where he fell in love with the daughter of his jailor. Before he was executed, he signed a last letter to her, "From Your Valentine," which became an expression that's still widely used today. Valentine was later made a saint and, in approximately 496 AD, the Pope made February 14 a special day for honoring him. Every year on Valentine's Day we celebrate love for our family, friends, and especially our romantic partner. One of the most timeless expressions of love is giving flowers.

Flowers have long been a symbol of fertility, marriage, and love. The custom of giving your sweetheart Valentine's Day flowers comes from the eighteenth century, where people would use bouquets to send each other non-verbal messages. Each flower was ascribed a specific meaning enabling people to have an entire conversation through the giving of blooms. The blossom which represented love is the red rose, which still is given as a timeless gesture of romance. While some women may have a special flower favorite which their sweetheart prefers to send, the traditional flowers for Valentines' Day are roses. Florists tell us that the most frequently ordered bouquets for the holiday are still a dozen long-stemmed red roses. While there are other contemporary gifts for Valentine's Day, such as cards, chocolates, and candy hearts, nothing says romance like flowers. It is a gesture that Valentine surely would have appreciated.

Giving Flowers and Gift Baskets are Easier than Ever

While the gesture of giving flowers or food gifts goes back to the beginnings of recorded courtship, it was not always easy to gather together a bouquet or send gift baskets. People had to grow their own flowers in a garden or pick whatever wildflowers were nearby. Later, florists and farmer’s markets made it easier; however, still the choice was still limited to local flowers which were in season. It was nearly impossible for the common person to give flowers as a gift to anyone who did not reside in their area. There also were not modern methods of preservation and shipping for specialty cheeses, desserts, and delicacies. A sign of great wealth in early nineteenth century was the ability to have flowers and foods shipped in from other parts of the country for society events and to consume wine from other countries.

Today, thanks to 1800flowers, it’s no longer necessary to go through such extremes. They ship beautiful flower arrangements and specialty gifts to people throughout the United States for all occasions. 1800flowers gift baskets are filled with wines and an assortment of delicious gourmet foods, fresh fruit, or sweet chocolates. Everyone is thrilled to receive a present by mail, especially those which are not expected. A lovely flower arrangement or basket full of tasty treats is always a wonderful surprise and makes a great holiday gift. Gift baskets are especially good presents when sending to a family, as there’s often something for everyone. People love the beauty of a bouquet and enjoy the delicious contents of a gift basket, while appreciating the thoughtfulness of the sender.

To Make a Woman Feel Special – Give her Flowers

Women everywhere, since the earliest history of courtship, love to receive flowers. They are a timeless gesture of romance which makes the recipient feel very special. When a woman is given flowers by her boyfriend or husband, it lets her know he was thinking about her and took the time to pick up a gift that’s sure to make her smile. All flowers are lovely and giving certain flowers can convey additional messages. All roses are romantic; however, historically there is meaning behind particular blooms. Pink roses signify happiness, yellow roses show friendship, while red represent passion. If a woman has a favorite flower, it is even more meaningful if her preference is remembered either gifted by itself or included within a bouquet. Flowers can be given to commemorate any special accomplishment or occasion such as a birthday, new baby, job promotion, or anniversary. They are also a wonderful gesture anytime to surprise and delight a woman.

Flowers today are given in several ways. They can be wrapped with others in a traditional bouquet or put in a type of container such as a vase or basket. Some containers are better suited to particular flowers and occasions than others. For example a basket is wonderful for a spring arrangement while red roses are best in a bouquet or a vase. When giving flowers, it’s also a good idea to consider the taste and style of the woman. Women who have country-style décor might better appreciate a basket full of happy sun flowers, someone with contemporary taste might like a more modern cube vase with a simple arrangement, while others appreciate exotic flowers in a striking floral design. However, every flower given in any way is always met with welcome. Sending flowers is easier than ever. It’s no longer necessary to grow one’s own garden or run out to the local florist or farmer’s market. 1-800Flowers ships gorgeous, fresh flowers all over the country and a 1800Flowers coupon makes such a wonderful gift more affordable. Flowers are the one gift that can never be wrong and always make any woman feel beautiful.

Give Flowers with Meaning

Throughout history, the giving of flowers has been a wonderful way to commemorate a special occasion. A bouquet of flowers can signify love, sympathy, support, congratulations, or simply be a lovely way to make the recipient smile. Among the most popular and timeless reasons to give flowers is to encourage romance and the true flower connoisseur can go a step further than simply selecting a pretty arrangement. Someone who wants to be unique will study the meaning of certain flowers so their gift is even more symbolic. Particular flowers will reveal the feelings of the giver and can show the different stages of a growing relationship.

Roses are an excellent example of how different types and colors of flowers send a special message. Most people know roses primarily represent love and red roses also signify passion. However, once considering their meaning, giving red roses on a first date may be inappropriate and too presumptive on the part of the giver. Red roses as a gift later in a relationship can be the perfect gesture, while such roses on an anniversary can show there is still passion in a marriage. Yellow roses represent friendship, white roses mean eternity, and pink roses are for both love and happiness. Mixing different types of roses can send several messages to the recipient such as love and friendship or eternal love. Many other flowers have their own unique meaning and researching them is a fun aspect to gifting. However, the tradition of sending a bouquet itself is what shows the sender truly cares, no matter what the color and type of blooms.

Giving flowers is easier than ever through services like 1800flowers. They enable people from all over the country to send fresh flowers and gifts to anyone, for any occasions, and even on the same day. They offer an extensive selection so even the most romantic flower researchers looking to add that extra meaning can have their pick of significant blossoms.