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Roses have a wide variety of symbolic meanings to people.
Red roses can be passion, love or sacrifice, white roses stand for purity and innocence, yellow roses can mean friendship or symbolize the state of Texas.
There is also blue roses that symbolize the rare, the unusual or a person who doesn’t play by the rules, and black roses can be used as a symbol or mourning or remembrance, among other meanings. Black and gray roses are also very popular design elements in tribal-style tattoos.
Happiness is represented by a pink rose and a peach-colored or light orange rose signifies gratitude and modesty.
Some roses are religious symbols, ancient or modern. To the ancient Greeks, the rose was the symbol of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In the Roman Catholic church, roses without any thorns are a symbol of Mary the Mother of Jesus. For Mexican Catholics, a rose without thorns may be a powerful symbol of maternal love and devotion, representing the Virgin of Guadalupe.
The number of petals on a rose design may have meaning to you. A shoulder tattoo of a rose with five petals might mean that five is your lucky number or that you have five children. Roses are strongly linked with love, relationships and romance but are also symbols of beauty.
Your rose shoulder tattoo might mean self-love to you and represent your inner and outer beauty.
If roses hold a particularly strong pull on your imagination but you don’t want a tattoo that’s highly visible in everyday clothing, consider a rose shoulder tattoo. Your shoulder can easily be covered by a blouse or t-shirt but can be revealed when you choose to wear a shoulder-baring gown, top or swimsuit.
