On the reality show 'The Bachelor,' the lead gives contestants he wants to keep a rose. During a rose ceremony, contestants who receive roses remain in the competition, while those left without one are eliminated.
The rose is the show's signature symbol and is usually presented by the Bachelor after brief conversations with contestants. Early in an episode, the lead may hand out individual roses during dates or cocktail parties; later, roses are distributed at the formal ceremony.
A common mix-up is confusing these roses with the show's final engagement ring. The ring is associated with the finale and the winning relationship, while roses are recurring signs that a contestant will continue into the next round. The format was adapted from the broader dating-show tradition of using elimination ceremonies to narrow the field.