Romance/Love
This week: Romance Awareness Month & Flowers Edited by: StephBee More Newsletters By This Editor
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Last month, I mentioned California was hot. Well, this month, California decided to set itself on fire. Unfortunately we’ve got serious property damage and loss of life. Crossing my fingers things get better.
Transitioning from that thought: A flame should never be left to rage out of control. As with wildfire, if romance burns too fiercely, than the price that’s paid when it diminishes is too much to pay. Look at Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Passion burned hot when they hooked up, and it seems to burn just as hot as they part.
That said, why can’t we all be friends? August is National Family Fun Month, National Smile month, and the 3rd week of August is National Friendship Week. As I touched upon last newsletter, August embodies all the fun that summer brings. Smiles and friendship go a long way with people. And let’s not forget the power of flowers.
There is a language, little known,
Lovers claim it as their own.
Its symbols smile upon the land,
Wrought by nature’s wondrous hand;
And in their silent beauty speak,
Of life and joy, to those who seek
For Love Divine and sunny hours
In the language of the flowers.
–The Language of Flowers, London, 1875
August is also Romance Awareness Month, so I’d thought I’d touch upon one of those little gestures that mean a lot – the giving of flowers. What does it mean to give flowers to a loved one? The meanings that flowers bring are a bit deeper than I suspected.
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We all know February is a month full of love and romance, however 6 months later all the romance and love may need a recharge. That’s why August is Romance Awareness Month. Little gestures mean a lot and giving flowers is a little gesture that embodies romance.
While I was researching this newsletter, I discovered giving flowers with symbolic meaning was very popular during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Flowers and giving flowers are ageless along with their meaning. Shakespeare passed them out in his plays. The Romans passed them out. The Egyptians did, too. To my surprise, I discovered several flowers I thought I knew the meaning of, didn’t have that exact meaning. Let me share:
Orange blossoms convey chastity, purity, and loveliness. Bluebells express kindness and peonies express bashfulness. Rosemary means remembrance while tulips express passion. (I thought roses expressed “passion!!”)
Pink carnations mean “I’ll never forget you.”
Red carnations means “My heart aches for you.”
White carnations means “sweet and lovely,” while yellow carnations represent romantic rejection.
Black carnations don’t exist.
Then there’s violets!
White violets mean innocence.
Purple violets mean the giver is occupied with love. (I think of the movie “My Fair Lady” here)
Red Tulips means you’re confessing your love.
Flowers were even used to answer questions. Hand a bouquet to your lady in her right hand, that means yes, the left means no.
Now, while I was researching all these flowers, one of my sites mentioned that for a story to be a “romance” there has to be a happy ending. I agree with that. Unhappy ending is not a romance. The story may have romantic elements, like “Romeo and Juliet” but it’s a tragedy, not a romance. Food for thought.
So, getting back to Queen Victoria… I just finished binging Season One of “Victoria” where a young Queen Victoria is played by Jenna Coleman. Fantastic series! Well done and well acted. There’s a bit of a “Downtown Abbey” feel as the series shows what it’s like to be Queen and then shows those who support the queen from footmen to the cooks and dressers. So, I’m just throwing this out there: Did Queen Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert have a happy ending?
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Feedback from my Romance/Love NL DTD: 18 JULY 2018:
bobturn
Great idea, I couldn't wait to hot dog it writing mine.
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Thanks for sharing!
Christopher Roy Denton
Thank you for plugging my chocolate-filled poem.
I'm working on a series of romance novels at the moment, my first foray into the genre, so I found your newsletter really relevant. Thank you!
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Thanks for sharing!
Editor’s Note: I know it’s been a while since I was able to pen to paper, but last year my small press publisher, Victory Tales Press got out of the publishing business. This year, Desert Breeze Publishing left the publishing business in June. I’ve been looking for new publishing houses (instead of writing, but it’s all good) so with much excitement, my stories, “Journey of the Heart,” and “Night of Magic” have found a home with Prairie Rose Publishing. No time yet when they will be available, but I’ll keep you updated here on my WDC blog and Newfeed. Still looking for homes for my other titles.
StephBee is a 911 dispatcher with LAPD. You can find lots of romantic short stories in her port here on WDC.
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