what was rosebud in citizen kane

In the film Citizen Kane, "Rosebud" is the last word spoken by the protagonist, Charles Kane, on his deathbed at the beginning of the film. The meaning of the word remains a mystery for much of the film, until it is eventually revealed to be the name of Kanes beloved sled from his childhood. The sled represents the purity of nature and childhood innocence that Kane lost long ago. Orson Welles, the director and star of the film, explained that in Kane's subconscious, Rosebud represented the simplicity, comfort, and lack of responsibility in his home, and also stood for his mother's love, which Kane never lost. While some have suggested that "Rosebud" was Hearst's own term for his wife's genitalia, this is not supported by any evidence.