The white rose is used in funeral arrangements to convey innocence and youth. They can also denote reverence for the person who has passed. Although sympathy flowers have meanings that can change from country to country, white roses remain a popular funeral flower.
In the context of a funeral service, white roses symbolise purity, humility and innocence, whereas red express love and respect and pink represents gratefulness to the deceased. A yellow rose is often given by friends to denote their deep ties, while the traditional dark crimson rose suggests deep sorrow and grief.
At a funeral, the classic deep red rose evokes love and grief. The yellow rose is often given by friends to show their bond. The rarer dark pink roses are used to express thankfulness to the deceased.
White is often the traditional color chosen for funeral flowers. White roses signify purity, innocence, honor and peace. If the person who has passed on was an elderly and well-respected person in your community, this may be an appropriate choice of flowers to take along to the ceremony.
The lily is the flower most commonly associated with funeral services as they symbolize the innocence that has been restored to the soul of the departed. The white lily expresses majesty and purity, where as white stargazer lilies specifically symbolize sympathy.
White and yellow chrysanthemums are widely used to say goodbye, particularly in Asia. This 'golden flower' is packed with meaning in those countries.
Asian countries see white chrysanthemums as a symbol of grief, whereas European countries view this flower as a symbol of death and only use them for memorial services or graves. In the United States, chrysanthemums are typically viewed as lighthearted flowers that honor the life of the lost loved one.
Sympathy roses convey the deepest respect for those passed away. The peaceful serenity of white roses are unmatched, making them the traditional flower of choice for funerals, tributes, and chapel ceremonies for decades.
1. Lilies – These flowers are a traditional choice for funerals, especially white ones because they represent rejuvenation of the soul and rebirth. 2. Carnations – Another common choice for expressing sympathy.
Pallbearers or anyone in the congregation can wear buttonholes or corsages as part of formal or informal funeral attire. This traditional buttonhole is made with a single rose in any colour of your choice - binded together with soft greenery and a sprig of filler flower.
White funeral flowers are the perfect way to create an ambience of hope and majesty during a funeral service, and white sympathy flowers are can be sent to grieving loved ones as a way to express your deep commiseration with the pain they are experiencing.
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.
White Roses
White roses are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings, but their quiet beauty has also made them a gesture of remembrance.
White roses can represent respect, trust, and gratitude.
Presenting someone with white roses or being presented with them by someone else signifies respect and appreciation. Being given white roses by your partner expresses their trust in you.
All About the White Rose
However, in Christianity, it was said that the white rose was a symbol of joy and purity as they were a reflection of Virgin Mary, the Mystical Rose of Heaven. Later down the line in history, the white rose became a symbol of peace, honour and loyalty in many events.
1 Rose. The purest symbol of new love, love at first sight, or a “one and only love,” giving someone a single red rose symbolizes the giving of your heart.
You Don't Have To Wear Black
However, colors like dark grey, dark blue, darker green, white, and beige can be appropriate. If you don't own any black clothing, you may always opt for a subtle hue that is appropriate for formal settings. In addition, stay away from anything with distracting patterns or prints.
Lilies. Lilies are often considered to be the classic flower for funerals. According to an article by Everplans (2021), when someone says “This place smells like a funeral home”, they most likely are thinking of the intense scent of lilies.
The purple hyacinth can communicate the pain that you feel upon hearing of their loss, and this simple sentiment is often just what the family needs.
The difference between “funeral flowers” and “sympathy flowers” is that funeral flowers will go directly to the funeral home to act as a tribute at the service of the deceased. They add decoration, beauty, and life to what can be an overwhelmingly somber event. Sympathy flowers are typically sent after the service.
Sympathy flowers have a long tradition of being sent to funerals and to the home of the bereaved. Flowers have been used for centuries for their symbolic meanings as a way of expressing feelings and messages to loved ones.
There are a handful of spiritual meanings for white flowers. They can represent innocence, purity, humility, and even messages from angels. Some people also believe white flowers mean new beginnings, and they are often used at events such as weddings, births, and memorials.
The red rose is known as the flower of love. The red rose symbolizes deep emotions and desires. Red roses are traditionally given to symbolize love, but aren't the only ones to earn this title. Other types of love flowers include peonies, sunflowers, or tulips, which symbolize happiness, prosperity and romance.