During the early times, flowers were present during funerals for the sole and practical reason of covering the unpleasant odor of the dead body with a much more tolerable scent of flowers and blossoms. Over the centuries and the history of funeral flowers, however, this tradition has evolved into something more than just a smell. People now send funeral flowers to those who lost their loved ones to express feelings of grief, sympathy, compassion, to honor the dead, to express gratitude and so much more. Through the constant changes and developments in our daily lives, the culture of sending funeral flowers has advanced and now even the individual flowers have also acquired corresponding funeral flower meanings, depending on the types of flowers used.
The most commonly used flowers when it comes to funerals are as follows:
Carnations – They are scientifically known as Dianthus caryophyllus and are usually 3-5 centimeters in diameter in terms of size. These sweet smelling flowers are available in purple, red, yellow, green and white. Each color has its meaning when sent as funeral flowers, and the most frequently utilized are red (which means passion and strong feelings) and white (which means truth and purity) carnations.
Roses – These common flowers used for many different occasions are available in over a hundred species and subspecies. For funerals, roses are the most elegant; they convey classiness while maintaining simplicity. Yellow roses are sent to symbolize love, while white roses mean innocence. The latter is often used for those who lost an innocent child. Red roses, like carnations, imply passion.
Chrysanthemums – From the Greek words chrysos, which means gold, and anthos, which means flower, this type of funeral flower holds an attractive physique that comes in yellow, purple and white. White symbolizes honesty and integrity. In most funerals, Chrysanthemums are used to bring a fresh and crisp atmosphere.
Orchids – A type of flower found in almost all parts of the world, Orchids are used in funeral flower arrangements to convey everlasting love to the deceased. While they can become seasonal, Orchids are almost always available especially in tropical countries.
Lilies – Lilies, which come from plants in the Lilium genus, have different varieties and colors that range from white, yellow, pink and orange. These flowers are special in the way that they bloom at their own time, and it is quite hard to figure out when that moment will come. Using them for funeral flower arrangements may involve perfect timing. Nonetheless, one type of Lily called “Lily of the Valley” symbolizes sweetness.
Hyacinths – For those who want to show their share of sorrow and grief over the death of a loved one, Hyacinths are the perfect pick to include in a funeral flower arrangement. They are also referred to as flowers of grief, which demonstrate sadness. In particular, purple hyacinths are used for this purpose.
Other than those mentioned above, there are many other flowers that are used in funeral flower arrangements, each of which has its own meaning and representation. It is important to know these things before picking out what to include in a flower arrangement, but the funeral flowers ideas are limitless.
