Flowers help speak a message that is difficult to say. It serves as a second language that helps people connect to others through their emotions, especially during a time of grief such as the death of a loved one. While there is no specific way to direct how sympathy flowers should be delivered or used, you can use some notes to be guided at a time when confusion can easily set in.
Read on to find some useful information that you can use to offer a fitting tribute to a dearly departed using funeral flowers.
Why Funeral Flowers are Essential
Back in the day, funeral flowers were used to serve practical purposes. These flowers were used to control the odor of the decomposing body. Funeral flowers became an essential part of funeral rites especially when refrigerated storage was not yet available. They help mask the smell of the corpse that’s why it is common for funeral homes to drape flowers around the casket.
While the process of embalming has already gone through enormous improvements to eliminate problems with the smell of a decomposing body, funeral flowers remain essential today. Sympathy flowers are sent to funerals to serve as an expression of comfort, support, love, and respect during a time of sorrow. Aside from that, funeral flowers are used to make a funeral service look more dignified, warm, and beautiful to balance the sorrow and grief felt by loved ones.
The Meaning of Funeral Flowers
Funeral flowers are essential. But aside from the purposes they serve, there is also a significance behind them. Spiritually, funeral flowers symbolize the life cycle from birth to death. Aside from love and sympathy for the dead and the family, they also represent eternity and immortality.
Aside from the meaning of funeral flowers in general, you’d also want to know the popular funeral flower arrangements that you can choose for a dearly departed.
3 Popular Types of Funeral Flower Arrangements
1. Inside Pieces
These funeral flowers are arrangements placed inside the casket. In general, they are set as corner clusters, sheaves, pillows, or crosses. Commonly, inside pieces are brought by the relatives of the deceased.
2. Flower Baskets
These are sympathy flowers that are sent to the funeral parlor, church, or home where the dearly departed may be visited. Aside from sending a message of support during a time of grief, funeral flower baskets are also used as a display on tables or around the casket.
3. Standing Funeral Flower Arrangements
Standing flower arrangements deliver messages of sympathy and serve as an adornment to make the funeral site more welcoming. They are also used to display love and respect for a dearly departed. Oftentimes, this is the preferred funeral flower arrangement of organizations or companies of which a deceased or a family member is a part.
Your Options on Funeral Flowers
Carnations
One of the flowers commonly used in funerals for a very long time, carnations are one of the preferred options for funeral flowers. Pink carnations represent remembrance while white carnations symbolize pure love.
Lilies
Known as a universal flower that is appropriate for any occasion, lilies are also used as funeral flowers as they symbolize restored innocence.
Chrysanthemums
There are different meanings behind chrysanthemums which make them a fitting choice as funeral flowers. In Europe, they are only intended to be used as funeral flowers. In the United States, they signify a positive and cheerful tribute. In Asia, they represent grief.
Roses
Another versatile type of flower, roses serve as funeral flowers too especially with the meanings behind each color variant. They are often associated with love but they also represent other meanings. White roses for humility and innocence, red for respect, pink for appreciation, dark crimson for sorrow, and yellow for strong relationships.
Orchids
Orchids are among the most commonly used for funeral flower arrangements. Its color variants also offer significant meanings that make them a fitting addition to sympathy flowers. Pink and white are commonly preferred as they are associated with mourning and eternal love.
Tulips
Tulips are lovely and elegant blooms that are also significant as funeral flowers. They symbolize fresh starts and are also believed to bring hope to people during difficult times. Each color of tulip also comes with important meanings. Yellow tulips represent cheerfulness, white tulips represent forgiveness, and red tulips represent love.
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Dealing with the death of a loved one isn’t easy. It may be difficult to find the right words to express love, support, and comfort during a time of grief. But with the help of funeral flowers, messages are expressed through symbolic offerings. All you have to do is to choose the best funeral flowers that can complement the message that you want to say.
Need help in choosing the right funeral flowers for a dearly departed? Ask our expert florists. The Flower Patch Shop is your source of fresh and thoughtfully done funeral flower arrangements so you can express your sincerest condolences in a suitable manner. We offer same day delivery. Get in touch now.
