![]() In Hawaii, orchids are often featured on floral garlands or leis, not only as a token of welcome but also as a funeral flower when someone has died. In the United States and Canada, the Dia de los Muertos isn’t a widely celebrated holiday, though the tradition exists in regions with large Latin American populations. The flower also appears in garlands and crosses, along with calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls) and candied sweets. Marigolds are often seen on ofrendas or elaborate altars honoring a person. The flower’s bright hues of orange and yellow are meant to keep the celebration cheerful and vibrant, rather than the somber mood associated with death. A combination of Aztec belief and Catholicism, the holiday takes place on November 1 and 2. In Mexico and Latin America, marigolds are the flower of death, used during Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. Marigold Marigold design used in jewelry. Black roses, which are not really black but in a very dark shade of red or purple, are also associated with farewell, mourning, and death. In some cultures, they also symbolize the blood of the martyr, likely because of its thorns, and death itself. ![]() While red roses can express love, respect, and courage, they can also represent grief and sorrow. Sometimes, purple roses are chosen for the funeral services of grandparents as they represent dignity and elegance. On the other hand, pink roses symbolize love and admiration, while peach roses are associated with immortality and sincerity. Generally, white roses are often used at the funerals of children, as they symbolize innocence, purity, and youthfulness. In fact, the flower can express a wide variety of symbolic meanings depending on its color. Source.Ī bouquet of roses can also be a fitting memorial of the departed. Another variation, the stargazer lily is often used to signify sympathy and eternal life. There are several types of lilies, but the Oriental lily is one of the “true” lilies that convey a sense of peace. In some cultures, white lilies suggest that the soul has returned to a peaceful state of innocence. ![]() Its association with purity is derived from the medieval images of the Virgin Mary often depicted holding the flower, hence the name Madonna lily. Since these flowers have a dramatic petal arrangement and a strong fragrance, white lilies are associated with innocence, purity, and rebirth. In Chinese culture, only a bouquet of white and yellow chrysanthemums is sent to the family of the deceased-and it shouldn’t contain red, which is the color of joy and happiness, and goes against the mood of a family grieving a loss. Japanese Buddhists believe in reincarnation, so it’s a tradition to place flowers and money in the coffin, for the soul to cross the Sanzu River. In Japan, white chrysanthemums are associated with death. In Malta and Italy, it’s even considered unlucky to have a flower in the house. While in France and southern Germany, they’re also linked to autumnal rites for the dead-and cannot be offered to the living. In the US, they symbolize truth and purity and are a great way to honor someone who has lived a whole life. Source.Ĭhrysanthemums are the most common flower used for funerary bouquets and on graves, but their symbolic meaning varies in different cultures. Nowadays, carnations are often featured in sympathy flower arrangements, as well as funeral sprays and wreaths. On the other hand, pink represents remembrance and white stands for purity.ĭuring Elizabethan times, wearing this flower was popular because it was believed to help prevent being put to death on the scaffold. Red carnations symbolize admiration and love, and say, “My heart aches for you”. In the West, bouquets of a single color, or mixed color carnations in white, pink, and red are a proper commemoration of a person’s passing. Carnation Floral arrangement with pink and fuchsia carnations. These are used in different cultures around the world even today. Let’s take a look at 13 flowers that represent death and mourning. Of these, flowers that represent death are likely the darkest and saddest. We often use flowers to symbolize happy and positive things, like love, admiration, and congratulations.
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