Why give a yellow rose?

Answer 1

The meaning of a yellow rose signifies strong feelings of pure joy, gladness, happiness and platonic friendship, in Germanic countries the meaning of a a yellow rose is different - they're used to convey jealousy.

Friendship is the main meaning of the yellow rose but it also signifies familiar love and domestic happiness. Yellow roses also symbolize fun and freedom.

Today, the yellow rose is used to embrace a new beginning, apologize or express sympathy, and to say, "remember me" , "I am sorry', or "I care." Yellow roses are appropriate for marking the beginning of a new life together or for starting all over again

Answer 2

Very simply, the yellow rose signified jealousy or infidelity during Victorian times, when the giving of flowers as messages was most popularized in human history. It changed to joy and friendship in the 20th century because, frankly, flower shops don't have an easy time selling flowers that signify negative meanings. I will add that in very ancient times, yellow roses were associated with the sun and divinity and were used in papal benedictions, but were not given as messages in quite the same quantity or fashion as during the Victorian era.

That said, I stick with the Victorian meaning for two reasons; one, yellow is traditionally the color of jealousy in western culture (I'm not sure of the rest of the world); two, roses are traditionally flowers that comment on various types of love - the flower is the emotion, and the color is, appropriately, the shade of emotion.

White = innocent love

Yellow = jealousy/infidelity in love

Pink = secret admirer

Red = Passionate love

And so on.... the color use is logical when looked at this way, instead of getting muddied by a slew of opposing definitions by a bunch of overly-PC flower shops.

Hope that helps.