Flowers represent different things in life—love, beauty, innocence, vibrance, and grace, to name a few—but their ultimate similarity lies in how they all bloom for only a significantly short period of time. On one end, flowers represent the sweetness of life, but on the other, they also represent the shortness of it.
The Essence of Flowers in Goodbyes
If your loved one has recently passed away, a funeral may help you better acknowledge and accept death, mourn, and commemorate the person. And what better way to make that last glimpse of their lives more meaningful than to choose flowers that would make their funeral a more peaceful space for their families and friends to say their final goodbyes.
While white flowers are the predominant choice for funerals, there are other types, colors, and arrangement choices that you may want to consider to make your loved one’s funeral more customized to their preferences.
Common Flowers for a Funeral
Orchids, especially the white and pink varieties, are often used to express sympathy, mourning, and eternal love. These are also often convenient choices as they last quite a long time compared to other types of flowers.
Lilies represent peace and innocence. In Christianity, these flowers are often displayed with the Blessed Virgin Mary as a symbol of her purity. Since the Philippines is predominantly religious, lilies have become a common flower choice for many.
Roses are also popular at funerals. You may be inclined to choose white roses as they signify peace and innocence. However, you may also consider incorporating red roses to represent love, pink roses to convey gratitude to the departed, or yellow roses that symbolize your deep connection with your loved one.
Chrysanthemums vary in color, but regardless, these flowers are generally associated with the remembrance of the life, love, and rebirth of your departed loved ones.
Carnations are also popular choices for a wake. White carnations are said to represent love, red for admiration, and pink for the remembrance of the departed.
Gerberas, especially lighter colors, such as pink, yellow, and white, are commonly used in funerals for their association with happiness, innocence, and gratitude. Thus, these flowers are perfect for celebrating the joyous life that your departed loved one has lived.
Types of Floral Arrangements
Aside from the types and colors of flowers, the floral arrangement you choose is also a significant aspect when planning your loved one’s funeral. Some examples of floral arrangements include casket sprays and sheaves, standing sprays, wreaths, standing wreaths, and posey.
Casket Spray
Standing Spray
Wreath
Standing Wreath
Posey
Funeral flowers play a significant role in commemorating the loss of a loved one, and thoughtful planning of these minute details helps guarantee that families and friends get to say their goodbyes in the best and most beautiful ways possible.
After all, death does not have to be so grim. If anything, these flowers also signify love, hope, light, and the chance for you, your families, and your friends to learn to move forward, all the while carrying eternal love from your departed loved one.
Comments