Mourning and the symbolism of flowers (2024)

FAQs

What flowers Symbolise grief? ›

Lily. You were probably expecting to see the lily in this list. It symbolises transience and the flower's pure look expresses emotions in times of loss and mourning.

Today, floral tributes serve the purpose of decorating a funeral service, placed at the burial site or given to the family of the deceased. Many people view memorial flower arrangements as a visual way to show your love and respect for the person who died.

Candles are used in many cultures as a symbol for loss and grief, along with a white dove, or here in Ireland, the triskele has been adopted by the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme as a bereavement symbol to let visitors and staff know that a recent bereavement has occurred.

Colors. Black is the color of mourning in many European cultures. Black clothing is typically worn at funerals to show mourning for the death of the person. In East Asia, white is similarly associated with mourning; it represented the purity and perfection of the deceased person's spirit.

First, they do it as a means of expression. Since it can be difficult for those in mourning to put their feelings into words, flowers can act as an expression of love, comfort, sympathy, and respect. Flowers also create a background of warmth and beauty, adding to the dignity and consolation of the funeral service.

Sending a floral arrangement honors the dead, and shows sympathy to the family. Generally, flowers today are sent to show respect, sympathy, and love for the deceased. Above all, flowers are important to a wake or funeral because they make the mourners feel like the deceased was cared for by many people close to them.

The pain that we experience after someone dear to us passes away can be overwhelming. But the support from friends and family members can help us get through a difficult time. Sending flowers is a loving way to offer something hopeful to people experiencing grief.

Black – Western World

Wearing dark colours for mourning has long been a tradition in many parts of the western world, in particular large parts of Europe and North America. The association of the colour black with death and loss is centuries old and is believed to have originated during Roman times.

Butterflies

The most commonly reported “sign” from a deceased loved one is the butterfly. And that makes a lot of sense since butterflies represent the human soul in many cultures. They also symbolize endurance, hope, and the life cycle.

Black is considered the mourning color, although historically it was white. Widows may wear purple when mourning the death of their spouse.

Where did the tradition of flowers at a funeral come from? ›

While some people believe the first funeral flowers were used to mask the odor of body decomposition at President Andrew Jackson's funeral in 1874, the earliest record of funeral flowers was actually from the Shanidar caves in Iraq, where a 30-45 year old male Neandertal skeleton was found in the fetal position with ...

Chrysanthemum Flower Meaning:

In western culture, especially in America, a chrysanthemum stands for sympathy, condolences, respect, and honor. Chrysanthemum meaning also varies depending on its color.