There are certain etiquettes to maintain when you attend a funeral in funeral homes. Bringing flowers is one such etiquette and what kind of flower you give, speaks volumes about your relationship with the deceased person, as well as your pain of the loss you are facing. Here is a quick guide on buying flowers for a funeral.
Broadly, there are 7 different kinds of flowers people choose from when attending a funeral. Here are the details about them.
Roses
Roses come in varieties of colors and each color represents one type of emotion. Though it is customary to give white flowers at a funeral, roses are one such flower which you can give in different colors. For example, if you are attending the funeral of a friend, you can give yellow roses symbolizing the friendship and the bond you shared. You can pick red roses to show respect, courage, and love for the deceased person. Pink, on the other hand, represents grace, appreciation, and love.
Lilies
Lilies are the most common funeral flowers, and it is so much so for many people, the smell of lilies reminds them of funerals or their visit to a funeral home. The reason why people chose lilies is that it is believed that the tomb of Mother Mary was covered in Lilies. Hence lilies stand for innocence and peace that the soul is restored to after death.
Carnations
White roses and lilies are often given in bouquets, carnations are often given as wreaths or standing sprays. Like roses, different colors have different significance when it comes to carnation. For example, pink carnation stands for remembrance while red carnation denotes affection. White carnations, which are the most common type sent at a funeral stand for innocence.
Orchids
Orchids stay fresh and alive for a long time and hence when you send orchids to a funeral, you say that you will remember the deceased person for a long time. In fact, many people often take back orchids given during the funeral to their home or office as they can last long.
Chrysanthemums
For many countries worldwide, white chrysanthemums are the flowers associated with funerals. They are the most common flower arrangement you will see in funeral homes. Even in other cultures, especially Asian culture, this flower symbolizes grief. For Americans, the flower represents the truth.
Daffodils and Tulips
Both these two types of flowers are great choices when you want to send some sympathy flowers. These flowers stand for renewal and a fresh start. They are often sent to the grieving family going through a loss of a loved one rather than to a funeral home where the funeral is being held. By sending these types of flowers, you are wishing the grieving family to show you sympathy and also to cheer them up, especially if you are sending yellow tulips or daffodils. The white tulips stand for forgiveness.
Gladioli
These long-stemmed flowers are often used in sprays and also can be sent out in multiple colors, though white is the most preferred choice. This flower stands for sincerity, the strength of character, and moral integrity. By sending this to a funeral, you are showing how much you appreciated the character of the deceased person.