Rose Day 2026: Check date, history, significance of different colours of roses

Rose Day 2026 on February 7: It mark the beginning of Valentine’s Week. Know all about the day and each rose colour that tells a story of love and friendship.

Rose Day 2026 date: Love is in the air with Valentine's Week 2026 painting the world in shades of red and pink. The celebrations kick off on February 7 with Rose Day and continue until Valentine’s Day on February 14. Rose Day marks the beginning of this romantic week, with singles and couples alike expressing their love and affection.

The highlight of Valentine's Week 2026 day 1 is gifting a beautiful bouquet of roses, filling the air with their enchanting fragrance and vibrant colours. From its origins to its meaning, here’s everything you need to know about the first day of Valentine’s week.

Why is Rose Day celebrated? Know history

The exact origins of Rose Day are unclear, but flowers have long symbolised love and passion across cultures. Roses, in particular, are celebrated as the ultimate flower of romance, famously featured in stories like Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, where they play a key role in the couple’s love story.

This symbolism dates back to ancient times. In Roman mythology, roses were linked to Venus, the goddess of love, while in Greece, Aphrodite was also associated with the flower. During the Victorian era, floriography, or the “language of flowers,” assigned meanings to each bloom, with red roses representing deep, committed love.

Roses were first cultivated in China and in many Asian cultures symbolise love, prosperity, and good fortune. Across centuries and cultures, the rose has remained a timeless emblem of romance.

Valentine's Week begins with Rose Day on February 7, symbolising love through the gifting of roses. (Pexels )

Rose Day 2026 significance

Valentine’s Week kicks off with Rose Day, a global symbol of love and affection. The day is dedicated to expressing emotions, especially romantic ones, through the timeless gesture of giving roses. Rose Day sets the tone for the week-long celebration leading up to Valentine’s Day. People can gift a bouquet of colourful roses to convey a range of feelings, or a single red rose to show deep love. It’s a cherished occasion for friends and couples alike, reminding us to celebrate and honour the special relationships in our lives.

Colours of roses and their meanings

Red roses are the most popular, but roses actually come in many colours, each carrying its own meaning. Here’s a guide to help you decide which rose to give and to whom.

Rose colour	Meaning
Red rose	Deep love, romance, passion
Pink rose	Admiration, gratitude, sweetness, joy
White rose	Purity, innocence, new beginnings, peace
Yellow rose	Friendship, happiness, warmth, joy
Orange rose	Enthusiasm, desire, fascination
Lavender/purple rose	Enchantment, love at first sight, royalty
Blue rose	Mystery, the unattainable, uniqueness
Green rose	Harmony, health, growth, peace
Black rose	Farewell, endings, rebirth, major change