Learn more fun facts on the Red Rose Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- AppreciationLove
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every June 12
- Holiday emoji:
- 🌹
Red Rose Day blooms on June 12, paying tribute to the iconic red rose, a universal symbol of love and romance. This day invites lovers, botanists, and romantics alike to appreciate its beauty. Celebrate by gifting a bouquet, planting a rose bush, or simply stopping to admire its fragrant petals.
Want to sponsor Red Rose Day? Learn how
Expected Red Rose Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that florists and gift retailers often roll out special offers for Red Rose Day. Expect to see discounts from major online florists like 1-800-Flowers and FTD, as well as local flower shops. Retailers such as Harry & David may feature rose-themed gift baskets, while jewelers like Pandora might highlight rose gold collections. Even chocolate brands like Godiva could offer special pairings. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as June 12 approaches.
Platform Guide for Red Rose Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #RedRoseDay. Share stunning photos of red roses, romantic gestures, or DIY floral arrangements.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #RedRoseDay. Post about the history of red roses or share a heartfelt story about receiving or giving one.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #RedRoseDay. Create short videos showcasing romantic gift ideas, rose care tips, or fun facts about the flower.
Red Rose Day Hero
Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais
History of Red Rose Day
In keeping with the sense of romance and mystique which a red rose can evoke, the exact origins of Red Rose Day are unknown, though it is said to have branched off from Rose Day (celebrated during Valentine’s Week in February), for the past decade. Whatever the reason for this separation, we are glad to have an excuse to give this scarlet bloom its due.
Surprisingly, the first records of roses being cultivated come from China, around 5000 years ago, during the Han Dynasty (141-87 B.C.). Though the flowers were what we call Chinese roses (a variant of Hibiscus flowers) or wild roses, they had similar characteristics to the modern-day red rose and can be seen in paintings and pottery of that era. The red rose then made its way to the culture-soaked civilizations of Rome and Greece, where it was cultivated and evolved into what we know it as today, in the Middle East especially. For the Greeks and Romans, the red rose was a symbol of luxury and an object of inspiration for many painters and writers. Perhaps that is why we now associate this luxurious flower with passion and grandiosity. By the time Christianity spread to Europe, the rose’s popularity dipped because it was seen as encouraging vices like excess and decadence.
However, it soon rose in popularity again and went on to have a bit of a bloody history too. In Tudor England (1500s), two royal factions — House of York and House of Lancaster, each with a rose as their symbol, fought a series of battles against each other; which are now collectively termed as the War of the Roses. House Lancaster (red rose) eventually emerged victoriously and the two roses were merged to form the ‘Tudor Rose’. Other than this bit of violent history, however, the red rose continues to be a popular expression of love, romance, beauty, and all things that are right with the world.
Red Rose Day timeline
Battles are fought between two opposing Houses under the monarchy in England, each represented by a rose (red and white).
Robert Burns first publishes “A Red, Red Rose” as a Scots song, which later becomes a poem.
President Ronald Reagan declares the rose as the national flower of America, standing in the White House rose garden.
Canadian artist, Claudio D’Angelo, creates a $3 silver coin with two blooming roses; plated in rose gold.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Red Rose Day
Local businesses can honor Red Rose Day by incorporating the iconic bloom into their offerings. Restaurants might feature rose-themed cocktails or desserts, while florists can offer special discounts on red rose bouquets or host workshops on rose care. Gift shops could curate collections of romantic, rose-inspired items. Even spas could offer treatments infused with rose essential oils, creating a truly sensory celebration of love and beauty.
Red Rose Day FAQs
When is Red Rose Day?
In 2026, Red Rose Day falls on Friday, June 12, offering a perfect opportunity to kick off a romantic weekend with a beautiful gesture of love.
What does a red rose symbolize?
The red rose primarily symbolizes deep love, passion, and romance. Its rich color has historically been associated with the heart and strong emotions, making it the quintessential flower for expressing profound affection.
How many varieties of red roses exist?
While it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact number, there are thousands of cultivated rose varieties, with hundreds specifically bred for their stunning red blooms. These range from classic hybrid teas to modern shrub roses.
Is June 12 significant for roses?
June 12 falls within June, which is traditionally known as the ‘Month of Roses’ and is also a popular month for weddings. This timing makes Red Rose Day a natural fit for celebrating the flower’s beauty and romantic associations.
How to Celebrate Red Rose Day
Let your creativity flow
There’s a trend on social media to share prompts and let people create what they will around them. Let the red rose be your prompt and see where your creativity leads you. Go the classic route with a song, poem, or painting; or think out-of-the-box and use it to create something uniquely you!
Organize a pub quiz
If we had a dime for every red rose reference in pop culture throughout the ages, we’d be able to afford a rose petal bath every day! Be it in songs, movies, books, or quotes — rose references abound. So why not do some research, get your gang together, and organize a rose-themed pub quiz?
Visit a rose garden
Since June is when the roses are looking their best, plan an outing with friends or family, to take in that sweet summer air in any of the popular rose gardens across the country. If a road trip is not in the cards, you can always grow your own rose garden, it doesn’t require green fingers.
5 Facts About Roses Which You May Not Know
Not just the U.S. national flower
Ecuador, Slovakia, Luxembourg, the Republic of Maldives, England, Iran, Iraq, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Romania all claim the rose as their own.
They can live a millennium
The oldest living rose (Hildesheim Rose) is 1000 years old, growing in a Cathedral in Hildesheim, Germany.
Each rose hue has meaning
A caution to the wise — be careful when you pick out roses, as each color expresses something different.
Rose cultivation can be lucrative
Rose breeder, David Austin, spent 15 years and $5 million on his Juliet Rose, which sold for a whopping $15.8 million, in 2006.
Sssh! Red roses meant secrecy
In ancient Rome, wearing a red rose or keeping it outside a door meant one is sworn to secrecy, hence the term ‘sub rosa’ means ‘secret’.
Why We Love Red Rose Day
Red roses have universal appeal
Whatever your cultural context, the red rose unites us all with its universal symbolism for love, romance, passion, and intrigue. Weddings the world over continue to use red roses in decorations, bouquets, and wedding attire — they complement many a blushing bride. To this day, giving someone a red rose is an unspoken confession of love, no matter where in the world you are.
Roses contribute to awareness
Complete with a heartwarming anecdote, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Australia celebrates its own Red Rose Day (sometime in May), thanks to the mispronunciation of a four year old suffering from the same condition. In 1965, Mary Weiss volunteered for the Cystic Fibrosis US Foundation, knowing her three sons had it. Her son Richard told his mom that she worked for “65 roses,” and thus the day of awareness was born — ‘65 roses for Cystic Fibrosis,’ with the foundation’s logo including a rose.
Red roses have many uses
To quote Shakespeare, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, yet we’re glad the name stuck. To think of a red rose is to think of its heady fragrance; so it’s no wonder that rose essence is a popular perfume ingredient. Roses also have medicinal value and are used in cooking and beverages too (hello cocktails!).
Social Media Tips for Red Rose Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands