The Meaning of Sympathy Flowers
 Sending a gift of flowers for a funeral or memorial service is a simple and meaningful way to express sympathy for the bereaved. In the past, the choice of flowers for a funeral was an important consideration. Many people associated specific meanings to different flowers. This “language of flowers” dates back to ancient times but received its largest following during the 19th century Victorian era. During that time, flower dictionaries and reference books defined specific meanings for every type of flower species.
According to FTD, one of the world’s largest floral delivery services, some examples of the traditional language of flowers include:
- Lilies symbolize purity. They also represent the innocence that is restored to the soul of the deceased. The white stargazer lily is one of the most popular flowers for funerals.
- Roses have a variety of meanings depending on the color. Red roses symbolize love and courage, while white roses convey innocence and youth.
- Gladiolus stalks represent moral integrity, strength of character and sincerity. These beautiful stalks can add a touch of elegance to any sympathy arrangement.
- Chrysanthemums, especially the white variety, represent death and mourning in many European and Asian cultures. In America, they are often used to symbolize truth.
Adhering to the traditional language of flowers is one way to customize a sympathy floral arrangement. Another way is to choose flowers and colors that had special meaning for the deceased. Either way, a beautiful arrangement of carefully chosen flowers is often a more eloquent way of expressing sympathy than words alone can convey.
Catie W.
September 20, 2010
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