Love is in the air….

“Oh my love is like a red, red, rose” crooned Scottish poet Robert Burns in one of his most famous poems…. yep, it’s that soppy time of year again, when even usually level headed people lose their cool in a flurry of red hearts and soft toys. Of course, here at the Oakeley Arms we’ll be waiting patiently by the letter box on Friday, all those cards are bound to arrive sooner or later!

Image by nunubu on sxc.hu

And of course, it’s not just cards that are traditional on Valentine’s Day. Chocolates, teddy bears and of course roses are the usual gifts for lovers all over the world. But, did you know that roses have a language all of their own? Red roses are the symbol of love, but other colours all have their own code too. Read on for our handy guide….

• Traditional bright red means love, affection, desire and passion
• Deep red conveys a deeper passion and willingness for commitment
• Pink exudes grace, elegance, beauty and refinement
• Bright pink is a way of showing appreciation and thanks
• Purple means opulence, mysticism and enchantment
• Turquoise marks fertility, abundance, rejuvenation and energy
• White is a symbol of purity, innocence, youth and new beginnings
• Gold conveys friendship, warmth and luck
• Orange is the colour for passion, desire, energy and mystery.
• Numbers are significant too – one rose depicts devotion to one person, two roses is symbolic of marriage, give three roses for each word in “I love you”, a dozen roses is the classic way of expressing love, twenty four roses shows you’re thinking of your loved one every hour of every day and a hundred roses is a love that will last a lifetime. A hundred and eight roses is said to be a marriage proposal in the language of flowers!

Image by lance1 on sxc.hu

And if you’re feeling a little blue because those cards, roses and chocolates haven’t made an appearance yet, then don’t despair. Come and join us here at the Oakeley Arms bar for a rejuvenating drink and a giggle!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.