Last Updated on November 1, 2022 by
Taking flowers to someone when they’re sick, to a funeral, or to the grave to express sympathy isn’t anything new. In fact, it’s a tradition dating back thousands of years. And while we know that yellow roses are a symbol of happiness and the red ones signify love and passion, what do you go for when you’re choosing flowers for a funeral?
Well, the language of flowers isn’t just used at happy times – any florist or expert will be able to tell you about various types of flowers that would be suitable for a funeral. Flower arrangements like wreaths and floral baskets are particularly symbolic.
Keep reading to learn more about when it’s appropriate to bring flowers and when it isn’t, and about what flowers you should pick.
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When to Not Bring Flowers
The appropriateness of flowers for a funeral depends entirely on the ethnicity of the grieving family and their religious beliefs. They aren’t a common gift for Jewish families, but they can still work. You might have better luck at a Muslim funeral if you take food instead of flowers.
If you’re unsure about whether your gift will be appreciated, call the funeral home, a close family member of the deceased, or a friend who might know. This way you can avoid any unpleasant circumstances, or make this time even more difficult for the deceased family.
Flowers for Funerals
When you send flowers to a funeral, make sure they get there before the funeral starts. Otherwise, you can have them sent to their home instead, and make sure to put your full name on the card accompanying the flowers so they know who they’re from – a lot of condolences will be pouring in and you might not be the only person with your first name that they know.
That said, let’s move on to the types of flowers that are suitable for funerals and grieving.
Roses
Roses are one of the most popular flowers in the world, and almost every color of the rose means one thing or the other. While colors like red, pink, and yellow are reserved for more cheerful occasions, you can incorporate white, maroon, or any other dark-colored roses to your flower arrangement.
Lilies
White lilies are a great option for any funeral flower arrangement, and they are a popular choice for casket sprays, as they add some sobriety to it without looking too dull or dark. White lilies also stand for the innocence of the departed soul, and are a way to acknowledge the goodness of the person who just died. Some interpretations say that the lilies don’t signify the innocence of the soul, but that the soul is now in a good place, returned to a state of innocence that it once came from.
Orchids
The most widely accepted meaning of the orchids is “I will always love you”, and we think that it’s one of the most appropriate messages you need to be giving at someone’s funeral.
The color of the flowers rarely ever matters, but the meaning stays the same. In addition, orchids have the ability to be included in both more cheerful flower arrangements and some of the more solemn pieces.
Carnations
Carnations are a popular flower choice for standing sprays and wreaths – standing sprays are flower sprays that are placed vertically next to the casket and can be only viewed from one side. They usually express love and sympathy for the deceased, all while being beautiful and lending grace and beauty to the funeral.
Different colors mean different things when it comes to carnations though, like how red shows affection and white symbolizes innocence.
Use Their Favorite Flowers Instead
If you’re close with the deceased person, the best option would be to forego these commonly used flowers in favor of the colors and flowers that the deceased loved in their lifetime. This will make the funeral more about paying tribute to the deceased, and any other close family and friends of the deceased will appreciate it too.
Read more: A GUIDE TO FLOWERS ON THEIR BIRTHDAY
