For centuries, funeral flowers have been used to symbolize love, respect, and remembrance in diverse traditions around the world.
When choosing flowers for funeral services, understanding their significance in your culture can help you respect customs while conveying your care for friends or family in a time of grief. Flowers may communicate different messages in different regions based on the unique history, religion, and practices of the area.
Western VS Asian Traditions
The use of flowers in funeral services is common in America, Canada, and the UK, where blooms often take center stage. White lilies are some of the most traditional funeral flowers. These blooms stand for purity and innocence, as well as the return of a departed soul to a peaceful state. Roses have their own unique meaning as well. Red roses tell of deep love and sorrow, while white roses express reverence and purity, and pink roses offer love and respect. Carnations, too, are frequently found in funeral flower arrangements.
In many Asian countries, the symbolism of different flowers is tied closely to color. In China, Japan, and Korea, for example, white flowers are associated with funerals and are most appropriate to send. White chrysanthemums are particularly special and almost never used in other settings throughout East Asia except for burials.
Bright and bold colors, like red, are often avoided since they suggest happiness and excitement. Some Buddhist practices prefer very simple arrangements that symbolize human frailty and the fleeting nature of life. Some choose orchids for these occasions because they embody eternal love and gentle grace. They can offer a quiet, understated expression of grief.
Latin American Cultures and Catholic Traditions
In countries like Mexico and the Philippines, and in devout Catholic communities, funeral flowers can reflect religious beliefs and hope for the future. Lilies are still incredibly popular here, not just because they symbolize the Virgin Mary but also resurrection. Gladioli are also steeped in meaning. The tall flowers symbolize a strong moral character and the strength of a person’s inner beliefs, which is why you see them so often in standing funeral sprays.
In Mexico, during the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), marigolds are used to help guide the spirits of the dead back to the world of the living. These flowers are called “cempasúchil” in the local language, which refers to the sun and the place where it sets. Orange or yellow marigolds, one of the national flowers of Mexico, represent the beauty and warmth of life. They are a gorgeous expression of reverence that speaks to how funeral flowers are used there to honor life, rather than mourn death.
How To Choose the Right Funeral Flowers
Understanding how different cultures throughout the world view funeral flowers can help you make considerate, empathetic choices for your family during times of loss and sorrow. Whether it’s a bouquet of white chrysanthemums chosen in Japan, a wreath of lilies ordered in Europe, or a blanket of marigolds sent for a burial in Mexico, flowers have spiritual and emotional meanings that are created by our cultures and by the way we live. When we take the time to appreciate these meanings, we are paying much-needed respect to our loved ones who have passed away, as well as to our loved ones who wish to honor them in ways that reflect the culture and heritage of the life they have lived. See More